The Senate continued to make progress on nominations for Cabinet Secretaries this week. Elaine Chao was confirmed by the full Senate on Tuesday, and has since been sworn in as Secretary of Department of Transportation. Also on Tuesday, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved the nominations of Ryan Zinke for Secretary of the Interior and Rick Perry for Secretary of Energy. On Thursday, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved the nomination for Environment Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt. Committee Democrats did not attend the vote, and therefore the Committee Republicans voted to change the rules to allow his nomination to move forward.
Dates have not been scheduled for when Zinke, Perry, or Pruitt will be considered on the floor of the Senate. Also, the Senate Agriculture Committee has not set a date for a hearing for the nominee for Secretary of the Department of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.