The Senate confirmed another of President Biden’s cabinet nominations on Monday afternoon, the third thus far. With bipartisan support for her confirmation, Janet Yellen will serve as Treasury Secretary in Biden’s administration, and the first woman to ever lead the department. She was confirmed unanimously by the Senate Finance Committee before her nomination was moved to the full chamber. Previously, Yellen served as Chair of the Federal Reserve during the Obama administration.
Confirmed, 84-15: Executive Calendar #2 Janet Louise Yellen to be Secretary of the Treasury.
— Senate Cloakroom (@SenateCloakroom) January 25, 2021
The U.S. Senate is voting NOW on the confirmation of Janet Yellen to be U.S. Treasury Secretary. If confirmed (and she will be easily), Yellen will be the first woman to hold the role in U.S. history
— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) January 25, 2021
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) deemed Yellen a "qualified and mainstream" choice by Biden, and supported her confirmation.
"When the American people elect a president, and when that president selects qualified and mainstream people for key posts, the whole nation deserves for them to be able to assemble their team. I’ll be voting to confirm Dr. Yellen today," McConnell said on the floor of the Senate.
McConnell on Treasury Secretary nominee Janet Yellen: "Her speedy confirmation will contrast sharply with the way the Senate Democratic minority handled many of the last President’s key cabinet nominations four years ago." pic.twitter.com/IsjMmNPRFK
— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) January 25, 2021
Other nominees for Biden's cabinet are more controversial and will likely not sail to confirmation as easily as Yellen did.
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