Senate-Confirmation

DNI Tulsi Gabbard's Secret Assad Meeting and Russian Ties Alarm Intelligence Allies

| Importance: 9/10

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, confirmed by a narrow 52-48 Senate vote, faces intense scrutiny over her 2017 secret meeting with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and consistent pro-Russia positioning. Her minimal intelligence experience and controversial past have raised significant …

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Interior Secretary Doug Burgum Signs Ethics Agreement to Divest Oil and Gas Interests

| Importance: 8/10

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum was confirmed by the Senate in a 79-18 vote, signing an ethics agreement to divest from oil and gas interests within 90 days of confirmation. Despite pledging to address conflicts of interest, Burgum has a history of voting on issues related to companies with his …

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Alex Azar Confirmed as HHS Secretary After Doubling Insulin Prices at Eli Lilly

| Importance: 9/10

On January 24, 2018, the Senate confirmed Alex Azar as Secretary of Health and Human Services by a vote of 55-43, installing as the nation’s top healthcare regulator a pharmaceutical executive who had overseen dramatic insulin price increases during his decade at Eli Lilly. As President of …

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Betsy DeVos Confirmed as Education Secretary in Historic VP Tie-Breaking Vote - First Ever for Cabinet Nominee

| Importance: 8/10

Vice President Mike Pence cast a historic tie-breaking vote on February 7, 2017, to confirm Betsy DeVos as Education Secretary—the first time in American history that a vice president’s tie-breaking power was used to confirm a Cabinet nominee. The Senate vote split exactly 50-50, with two …

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