SENATE AVRIL HAINES, DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: LLOYD AUSTIN, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE:

Voting 69-27, the Senate on Jan. 21 joined the House (above) in granting a waiver (HR 335) allowing retired Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III to serve as secretary of defense even though seven years have not elapsed since his retirement in April 2016 as the law requires. A yes vote was to send the bill to President Joe Biden.

Feinstein: YES

Voting 84-10, the Senate on Jan. 20 confirmed Avril D. Haines, 51, as director of national intelligence, elevating her as the first woman to lead the U.S. intelligence community comprised of 16 civilian and military spy agencies. She was deputy CIA director between 2013 and 2015, the first woman in that post. A yes vote was to confirm the nominee.

Feinstein: YES

Voting 93-2, the Senate on Jan. 22 confirmed retired Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III as secretary of defense. He is the first African American to hold the position. Austin, 67, was commander of the U.S. Central Command when he retired nearly five years ago. He was the last commanding general in Iraq between 2010 and 2011 and directed the drawdown of U.S. troops there. A yes vote was to confirm the nominee.

Feinstein: YES

Padilla: YES

Padilla: YES

Padilla: YES