The Senate voted Monday to advance Jeffrey Rosen’s nomination as deputy transportation secretary and set up a likely vote on the nominee on Tuesday.
The Senate invoked cloture on the nomination on Monday evening by a 52-42 vote, including “yes” votes from six Democrats. Six Republican senators did not vote.
Rosen was nominated by President Trump back in March and previously served in the Bush administration as the Transportation Department’s general counsel.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., lamented that Rosen’s nomination even needed a cloture vote, pointing to his confirmation by a voice vote the last time he was considered by the upper chamber.
“It’s disappointing that we had to file cloture on this bipartisan choice this time around,” McConnell said on the Senate floor Monday afternoon. “Mr. Rosen’s work in both the private and public sector has given him a unique insight into the budgetary and regulatory challenges that infrastructure projects face.”
Two other posts are also expected to be voted on and later this week, including Rachel Brand to serve as assistant attorney general and Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad to serve as ambassador to China.
