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| Senate Confirms Mattis at Defense and Kelly for Homeland Security | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| WASHINGTON — Just hours after President Trump was sworn into office, the Senate on Friday confirmed two nominees for critical national security positions, James N. Mattis as defense secretary and approve John F. Kelly as homeland security secretary. | |
| Republicans had hoped to approve a far greater number of nominees on Mr. Trump’s first day in office, but that process has been delayed because several of Mr. Trump’s nominees have been late in filing ethics disclosures, prompting protests by Senate Democrats. | Republicans had hoped to approve a far greater number of nominees on Mr. Trump’s first day in office, but that process has been delayed because several of Mr. Trump’s nominees have been late in filing ethics disclosures, prompting protests by Senate Democrats. |
| While Republicans sought to confirm a third national security nominee on Friday, Representative Mike Pompeo of Kansas, the president’s nominee to lead the Central Intelligence Agency, Democrats planned to delay his approval, noting that he had not even been approved by the Senate Intelligence Committee as of Friday. | While Republicans sought to confirm a third national security nominee on Friday, Representative Mike Pompeo of Kansas, the president’s nominee to lead the Central Intelligence Agency, Democrats planned to delay his approval, noting that he had not even been approved by the Senate Intelligence Committee as of Friday. |
| Three Democratic senators — Ron Wyden of Oregon, Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut — objected to what they characterized as an overly speedy push to confirm Mr. Pompeo. “The importance of the position of CIA Director, especially in these dangerous times, demands that the nomination be thoroughly vetted, questioned and debated,” the senators said in a statement. | Three Democratic senators — Ron Wyden of Oregon, Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut — objected to what they characterized as an overly speedy push to confirm Mr. Pompeo. “The importance of the position of CIA Director, especially in these dangerous times, demands that the nomination be thoroughly vetted, questioned and debated,” the senators said in a statement. |
| The skirmish over nominees set a grim tone for the first day of Senate under the new president. The Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky, chastised Democrats for delaying nominees, pointing out that the Senate had cleared seven such cabinet officials on President Obama’s first day in office in 2009. | The skirmish over nominees set a grim tone for the first day of Senate under the new president. The Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky, chastised Democrats for delaying nominees, pointing out that the Senate had cleared seven such cabinet officials on President Obama’s first day in office in 2009. |
| Democrats responded that Mr. McConnell had refused to even allow a hearing to be held for Mr. Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Merrick M. Garland, during his last year in office. | Democrats responded that Mr. McConnell had refused to even allow a hearing to be held for Mr. Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Merrick M. Garland, during his last year in office. |
| “For those who have forgotten the record of the Republicans in the Senate when it comes to delaying nominations, Exhibit A will continue to be the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court,” said Senator Dick Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, on the senate floor, adding, “That vacancy continued for political reasons regardless of the fact that it created at least a hardship and some confusion on the highest court of the land. It went on for 10, 11 months and it continues to this day.” | “For those who have forgotten the record of the Republicans in the Senate when it comes to delaying nominations, Exhibit A will continue to be the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court,” said Senator Dick Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, on the senate floor, adding, “That vacancy continued for political reasons regardless of the fact that it created at least a hardship and some confusion on the highest court of the land. It went on for 10, 11 months and it continues to this day.” |
| Both Mr. Mattis and Mr. Kelly are retired Marine Corps generals. Federal law requires a seven-year waiting period between active duty and serving as the secretary of defense; Congress passed legislation last week granting a waiver to Mr. Mattis and Mr. Trump signed it on Friday. | Both Mr. Mattis and Mr. Kelly are retired Marine Corps generals. Federal law requires a seven-year waiting period between active duty and serving as the secretary of defense; Congress passed legislation last week granting a waiver to Mr. Mattis and Mr. Trump signed it on Friday. |
| At a luncheon at the Capitol, Mr. Trump said the generals in his cabinet “are going to keep us so safe” while describing them as out of “central casting.” He also nudged the Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer of New York, over the pending confirmations. “Our cabinet’s lined up and ready,” he said. “I know eventually Chuck’s going to approve them, I’m sure. I really believe that.” | At a luncheon at the Capitol, Mr. Trump said the generals in his cabinet “are going to keep us so safe” while describing them as out of “central casting.” He also nudged the Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer of New York, over the pending confirmations. “Our cabinet’s lined up and ready,” he said. “I know eventually Chuck’s going to approve them, I’m sure. I really believe that.” |