Billionaire investor Wilbur Ross is set to be confirmed as President Trump’s secretary of Commerce on Monday night, as the Senate begins the week advancing two of the several remaining cabinet selections yet to take their posts.
Ross cleared a procedural hurdle two weeks ago with bipartisan support, just before the upper chamber broke for recess. Rep. Ryan Zinke, a Montana Republican and Trump’s selection to head the Interior Department, faces the same vote to end debate on his nomination Monday night. Zinke’s confirmation was expected to be smooth, with Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee chairwoman Lisa Murkowski saying she didn’t forsee “some high-profile issue that’s going to blow” and stall the process. But it’s been more than a month since his hearing before Murkowski’s panel, and he’s experienced multiple delays.
He’ll have a final vote teed up sooner than some of his counterparts, however, as Trump’s picks to lead the Agriculture, Energy, Labor, and Housing and Urban Development Departments have yet to be formally considered on the Senate floor. The choice for Labor, Alexander Acosta, was a late replacement for Andrew Puzder. The choices for Director of National Intelligence and U.S. Trade Representative are also awaiting action.
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