Democratic senators are employing “delay tactics” to stop President-elect Trump’s Cabinet nominees, some of whom have sailed through their confirmation hearings without controversy, incoming White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Thursday.
“These people have had their paperwork in, their quality and caliber and integrity is unquestionable,” Spicer said during a briefing for reporters in Washington.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has indicated only CIA director nominee Rep. Mike Pompeo, Secretary of Defense nominee Gen. James Mattis, and Secretary of Homeland Security nominee Gen. John Kelly are likely to receive a confirmation vote on Friday.
The transition team aims to have the Senate confirm seven nominees on Trump’s first day in office, which would match the number of nominees President Obama was able to move on his Inauguration Day in 2009.
“Sen. [Majority Leader Mitch] McConnell has been working tirelessly to get as many nominees confirmed as possible so that we’re ready to go,” Spicer said.
But the incoming press secretary questioned why Democrats had excluded candidates who were never targets of their so-called “hit list” of nominees to derail. Ben Carson and Elaine Chao, for example, hadn’t made it onto the hit list but were excluded from the Democrats’ list of candidates headed for a vote on Friday.
“The idea that they’re expanding this [hit] list and slowing down the continuity of government is unacceptable,” Spicer said.
