The Senate has confirmed John Ratcliffe as director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Twenty-one members of the Democratic caucus joined Republicans in Thursday’s 74-25 vote, making Ratcliffe the second nominee approved in Trump’s new term.
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has advanced the nominations of fracking executive Chris Wright for energy secretary and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum to lead the Interior Department. Both Wright and Burgum have pledged to carry out Trump’s campaign pledge to “drill, baby, drill” to boost oil and gas production.
Meanwhile, the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee has advanced Lee Zeldin’s nomination to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Zeldin is a former Republican congressmember who earned a score of 14 out of 100 from the League of Conservation Voters for voting against critical environmental protections and clean energy job investments.