GOP-led Senate panels OK more Cabinet picks

WASHINGTON — Senate committees gave the green light Tuesday to several of President Donald Trump’s picks for Cabinet posts, putting the top-level nominations on a glide path to confirmation just days into the new administration.

As Republicans criticized Democrats for not moving quickly enough on Trump’s selections, the GOP-led panels easily approved his choices to lead the Commerce, Housing and Transportation departments. The president’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, also won broad support.

She was later confirmed by the full Senate.

But several of Trump’s nominations were moving slowly, escalating the partisan bickering.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, forced a oneweek delay — until Jan. 31 — of the committee’s vote on Trump’s attorney general nominee, Sen. Jeff Sessions.

Feinstein said senators “owe it” to the more than 1 million women who marched in Washington and other locations Saturday to be careful in considering Sessions’ nomination and his willingness to protect equal rights. She also said the committee received 188 pages of new material Sunday that needs to be reviewed.

Committee rules allow any member of the committee to delay a vote.

The Senate Commerce Committee approved by voice votes Trump’s choices of conservative billionaire investor Wilbur Ross to run the Commerce Department and Elaine Chao to lead the Transportation Department.

Ross has specialized in buying distressed companies that still have a potential for delivering profits. He has known Trump for more than 20 years and served as an economic policy adviser to Trump’s team.

Ross also has been critical of the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico, which he blames for a loss of U.S. jobs. He has also accused China of protectionist policies.

Chao was labor secretary in President George W. Bush’s administration and deputy transportation secretary under President George H.W. Bush. She is also the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

Chao is expected to play a major role in Trump’s effort to fulfill his campaign promise to generate $1 trillion in infrastructure investment.

Ben Carson, nominated to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development, won unanimous approval from the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. The former Republican presidential candidate and celebrated neurosurgeon would lead a sprawling agency with 8,300 employees and a budget of about $47 billion.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee cleared by voice vote Haley’s bid to be U.S. ambassador to the UN. During her confirmation hearing, Haley declared her support for moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The shift may trigger violence in the Middle East.

Senators confirmed Haley 96-4 despite her lack of foreign policy experience.

Sen. Bob Corker, the Republican chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, called Haley a proven leader who will be a “fierce advocate” at the U.N. for American interests.

But Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., opposed Haley. The Delaware Democrat said she did not convince him that she’ll serve effectively in the job.