💎 Fed’s first rate cut since 2020 set to trigger market. Find undervalued gems with Fair ValueSee Undervalued Stocks

FACTBOX: Obama Cabinet still not finalized

Published 02/03/2009, 03:40 PM
Updated 02/03/2009, 03:48 PM

Feb 3 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama was hit on Tuesday by another embarrassing withdrawal of one of his Cabinet nominees. Two weeks after taking office, Obama has yet to finalize his Cabinet or get all the nominees he has picked approved by the Senate.

Here is a look at the status of the nominees for his 15-member Cabinet.

* Obama needs to nominate a Health and Human Services secretary and someone to oversee the healthcare system. Former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle withdrew his name on Feb. 3 amid questions over tax errors which caused him to pay $140,000 in back taxes.

* After his first pick for commerce secretary, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, withdrew in the face of a legal inquiry, Obama spent nearly a month making a new choice. He nominated Republican Senator Judd Gregg, a well respected lawmaker and accomplished negotiator, on Feb. 3. Gregg still faces a committee hearing and Senate confirmation.

* The labor secretary-designate, Democratic U.S. Representative Hilda Solis of California, has gone through confirmation hearings before the Senate Health and Labor committee. But Republicans have had questions about her position on some matters, particularly union-related issues. If she is approved by the committee, her nomination would go to the full Senate for approval.

Already approved:

* Eric Holder, U.S. attorney general, faced questions about his service in the Clinton administration. But he was confirmed 75-21 on Feb. 2.

* Timothy Geithner was confirmed as treasury secretary by a vote of 60-34 on Jan. 26. Geithner, who faced questions about late payment of some taxes, previously served as head of the New York Federal Reserve Bank.

* Former Senator Hillary Clinton was confirmed on Jan. 21 by a 94-2 vote as secretary of state.

* Janet Napolitano was confirmed as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security without dissent on Jan. 20. She previously served as Arizona governor.

* Arne Duncan was unanimously confirmed as secretary of the Department of Education on Jan. 20. Previously he served as Chicago school superintendent.

* Steven Chu was confirmed unanimously as secretary of the Energy Department on Jan. 20. A physics Nobel laureate, Chu previously headed Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

* Tom Vilsack won unanimous approval as secretary of the Agriculture Department on Jan. 20. He is a former Iowa governor.

* Retired Army General Eric Shinseki was confirmed unanimously as secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs on Jan. 20.

* Ken Salazar was confirmed unanimously on Jan. 20 as secretary of the Interior Department. Previously he served as Democratic senator from Colorado.

* Shaun Donovan was unanimously confirmed as secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban development on Jan. 22.

* Former Republican U.S. Representative Ray LaHood of Illinois was unanimously confirmed on Jan. 22 as secretary of the Transportation Department.

* Obama decided to keep Republican President George W. Bush's defense secretary, Robert Gates, at the Pentagon.

(Compiled in Washington by Thomas Ferraro and Deborah Charles; Editing by David Wiessler)

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.