Senate confirms dozens of stalled Trump nominees hours before the 115th Congress ends – Washington Examiner

The Senate confirmed dozens of stalled Trump administration nominees Wednesday night, just hours before the close of the 115th Congress.

The list excluded federal judges despite an effort by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to secure a deal for those nominees with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

In total, the Senate cleared 77 nominees by voice vote, among them 23 ambassadors to countries including Australia, Armenia, Yemen, Guyana, Kenya, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Senate confirmed eight U.S. attorneys and eight U.S. marshals, a member of the Federal Maritime Commission, and two members of the Federal Communications Commission.

The Senate confirmed James Carroll Jr. to be director of National Drug Control Policy. It also confirmed Ellen McCarthy to serve as assistant secretary of state.

And it confirmed Kelvin Droegemeier to serve as the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

“The Senate has confirmed a highly respected scientist and academic to help further our nation’s economic competitiveness and national security,” said incoming Senate Majority Whip John Thune, R-S.D.

McConnell had hoped to confirm more than a dozen federal judges at the end of the year, but Schumer, under pressure from his party’s progressive base, blocked a bipartisan deal.

Those judges will now move through the Judiciary Committee and onto the Senate floor where they will likely pass with a GOP majority vote.