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In 2017, Betsy DeVos barely survived her confirmation vote to become President Trump’s secretary of education.
- Jan. 24, 2025Updated 11:15 p.m. ET
Nearly eight years ago, another Trump administration cabinet secretary barely survived her confirmation vote, advancing only after a vice president’s tiebreaker vote.
That nominee was Betsy DeVos, the wealthy Republican donor who had almost no experience in public education and who was confirmed to lead the Department of Education.
On Feb. 7, 2017, two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, turned against Mr. Trump’s pick for the job and voted against her. But without a third Republican to join their ranks, Ms. Devos was ultimately confirmed on a 51-to-50 vote.
It was the first time a vice president — in this case, Vice President Mike Pence — had been summoned to the Capitol to break a tie on a cabinet nomination.
On Friday, Pete Hegseth became the second person to be confirmed to a cabinet secretary post when Vice President JD Vance cast the deciding vote, ensuring he will be the next defense secretary. Ms. Murkowski and Ms. Collins also voted against him, along with Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky.
Democrats argued that allegations of sexual misconduct, abusive behavior, public drunkenness and fiscal mismanagement of two nonprofit veterans groups made Mr. Hegseth unqualified and unfit to oversee the country’s 1.3 million active duty troops and the Pentagon’s nearly $850 billion budget.
Annie Karni is a congressional correspondent for The Times. She writes features and profiles, with a recent focus on House Republican leadership. More about Annie Karni
