Alliances December 20, 2015 Senate confirms nominee criticized for role in Benghazi response The Senate on Thursday confirmed Victoria Nuland, President Barack Obama's choice as chief U.S. envoy for Europe who was widely criticized for her role in the talking points created after last year's deadly assault in Benghazi, Libya.
State Department December 20, 2015 Senate confirms US ambassador to Russia After a period in limbo with a slew of other nominees to be U.S. diplomats around the world, John Tefft gained Senate confirmation Thursday night as America's new envoy to Russia.
Appointments December 20, 2015 Senate confirms McDonald as VA secretary The Senate on Tuesday unanimously confirmed former Procter & Gamble CEO Robert McDonald as the new Veterans Affairs secretary, with a mission to overhaul an agency beleaguered by long veterans' waits for health care and VA workers falsifying records to cover up delays.
Appointments December 20, 2015 Senate panel backs McDonald for VA secretary The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee on Wednesday endorsed former Procter & Gamble CEO Robert McDonald to be the new secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Republicans December 20, 2015 VA nominee McDonald goes before Congress President Barack Obama's choice to lead the beleaguered Veterans Affairs Department is going before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee for a confirmation hearing as Congress considers a bill to help the next VA leader do his job.
Appointments December 20, 2015 Senate confirms housing chief to run budget office The Senate has confirmed President Barack Obama's housing chief as the new director of the White House budget office.
State Department December 20, 2015 Senate confirms new US ambassadors to Iraq, Egypt The Senate has confirmed new U.S. ambassadors to Iraq and Egypt after lengthy delays.
Appointments December 20, 2015 Senate confirms first openly gay black federal judge By a 98-0 vote Tuesday, senators approved President Barack Obama's choice of Darrin Gayles to join a district court in Florida.
Republicans December 20, 2015 Sen. Paul tries to block Obama's 'political' surgeon general nominee Sen. Rand Paul is trying to block the nomination of President Obama’s surgeon general nominee, Dr. Vivek Murthy, over what he calls “serious concerns” about Murthy’s leadership in a group that promotes ObamaCare and gun control.
State Department December 20, 2015 Revolt in the ranks: Foreign Service group demands better qualified diplomats After a string of rocky confirmation hearings for President Obama's diplomatic nominees, the group representing America's Foreign Service professionals signaled Friday that it's had enough.
Homeland Security December 20, 2015 Obama choice to run controversial immigration program faces a fight Hard questions about a controversial investor-visa program await President Barack Obama's choice to head the embattled U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.