Below is a list of confirmations for Cabinet positions, Cabinet-level positions, and other significant positions that were approved through the Senate from January 2021 onwards, by a
recorded roll-call vote, rather than by a
voice vote.
Affiliation: D denotes
Democratic, R denotes
Republican, and I-D denotes an independent who caucuses with Democrats.
Elected officials
President
On November 7, 2020, it was announced that
DemocratJoe Biden defeated the incumbent president,
Donald Trump, in the 2020 presidential election. Joe Biden received 306 electoral votes compared to Trump's 232 electoral votes, with 270 needed to win the presidency. He assumed office on January 20, 2021.
Sen.
Kamala Harris (D-CA) was elected vice president of the United States, receiving 306 electoral votes, compared to the incumbent vice president,
Mike Pence, who received 232 electoral votes. An elected vice president does not require Senate confirmation, and the vice president does not serve at the president's pleasure.
Having assumed office on January 20, 2021, she is the first female vice president of the United States as well as the first African American and Asian American to hold the second-highest office.
A nomination for Secretary of State is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the
Foreign Relations Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
Foreign Relations Committee hearing held and approved 15–3 on January 25, 2021. Confirmed 78–22 and sworn in on January 26, 2021.[3]
A nomination for Secretary of the Treasury is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the
Finance Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
Finance Committee hearing held and approved by unanimous consent on January 22, 2021. Confirmed 84–15 on January 25, 2021, and sworn in on January 26, 2021.[5]
A nomination for Secretary of Defense is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the
Armed Services Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote. Biden's announced nominee, retired Gen.
Lloyd Austin, required a congressional waiver to be granted under the
National Security Act of 1947 before he was confirmed.[7]
Waiver process:
House Armed Services Committee hearing held on January 15, 2021, and approved without objection on January 21, 2021. Floor vote passed 326–78 on January 21, 2021.
Senate Armed Services Committee hearing held and approved by voice vote on January 21, 2021. Floor vote passed 69–27 on January 21, 2021.
A nomination for Attorney General is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the
Judiciary Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
Judiciary Committee hearings held on February 22–23, 2021, vote scheduled for March 1, 2021.[11]
A nomination for Secretary of the Interior is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the
Energy and Natural Resources Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote. Biden reportedly offered the position to Governor
Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, but she turned it down.[13]
A nomination for Secretary of Agriculture is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
A nomination for Secretary of Commerce is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
A nomination for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
A nomination for Secretary of Transportation is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
The nomination of a secretary-designate is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the
Energy and Natural Resources Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
A nomination for Secretary of Veterans Affairs is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the
Veterans' Affairs Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.
Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing held on January 27, 2021, approved by unanimous consent on February 2, 2021. Confirmed 87–7 on February 8, 2021, and sworn in on February 9, 2021.[33]
Cabinet-level officials have positions that are considered to be of Cabinet level, but which are not heads of the executive departments. Which exact positions that are considered to be cabinet-level varies with each president. Biden has announced he will elevate three positions to Cabinet-level, while removing the
director of the Central Intelligence Agency.[36]
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Intelligence Committee hearing held and approved by unanimous consent on January 20, 2021. Confirmed 84–10 on January 20, 2021, and sworn in on January 21, 2021.[40]
The UN ambassador was previously in the Cabinet from 1953 to 1989, 1993 to 2001, and 2009 to 2018.
Foreign Relations Committee hearing held on January 27, 2021, and approved 18–4 on February 4, 2021. Cloture invoked 75–20 on February 22, 2021. Confirmed 78–20 on February 23, 2021 and will
present credentials to assume office on February 25, 2021.[43]
The
White House chief of staff has traditionally been the highest-ranking staff employee of the
White House. The responsibilities of the chief of staff are both managerial and advisory over the president's official business. The chief of staff is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the
president; it does not require
Senate confirmation. The first Cabinet or Cabinet-level position appointee announced by Biden was White House chief of staff Ron Klain.[53]