One Hiccup as Confirmation Hearings Get Underway

Education pick Betsy DeVos' hearing is delayed a week
By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 10, 2017 9:47 AM CST
One Hiccup as Confirmation Hearings Get Underway
Education Secretary-designate Betsy DeVos.   (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

A busy schedule of confirmation hearings is now underway, with one of the most high-profile nominations leading off. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., was being grilled by members of the Senate Judiciary Committee in his bid to become attorney general, reports the Los Angeles Times. (You can follow along live via a number of sites, including the Hill.) Democrats have been chafing at what they see as a too-fast pace, especially because not all the nominees have filed the appropriate paperwork with the Office of Government Ethics. Now, one has been delayed: The hearing for education nominee Betsy DeVos, a billionaire, has been pushed back from Wednesday to Jan. 17, reports Politico. Democratic Sen. Patty Murray said she "is hopeful that this additional time will allow Ms. DeVos to complete the required ethics paperwork."

Once a nominee is cleared by the relevant committee, the name is sent to the full Senate for a vote, notes ABC News in a primer on the process. Here is the current schedule:

  • Attorney General: Jeff Sessions—Jan. 10-11 (underway)
  • Homeland Security: John Kelly—Jan. 10, 3:30 pm
  • Secretary of State: Rex Tillerson—Jan. 11-12, 9 and 10 am
  • CIA Director: Mike Pompeo—Jan. 11, 10 am
  • Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao—Jan. 11, 10:15 am
  • Secretary of Commerce: Wilbur Ross—Jan. 12, 10 am
  • Secretary of Housing: Ben Carson—Jan. 12, 10 am
  • Secretary of Education: Betsy DeVos—Jan. 17, 5 pm
  • Secretary of Labor: Andy Puzder—Jan. 17 (tentative)
  • UN Ambassador: Nikki Haley—Jan. 18 (tentative)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X