Senate Confirmation
The current Republican-controlled Senate begins confirmation hearing for eight of Trump's cabinet nominees on Jan. 10 (except Vice President Mike Pence and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus). History supports Trump's confidence in his appointees, with only 11 nominations withdrawn or not acted on by the Senate in 228 years the executive branch.
The Process
Nominations start at designated committees, which can hold hearings, pass it along for a vote, or not move on it (ending the nomination). Post-hearing, committees report nominations to the entire Senate for a simple majority vote. Nominees may not receive full confirmation until after the inuaguration on Jan. 20.
The Schedule
Attorney General: Jeff Sessions - Jan. 10-11, 9:30 a.m.
Homeland Security: John Kelly - Jan. 10, 3:30 p.m.
Secretary of State: Rex Tillerson – Jan. 11-12, 9 a.m., 10 a.m.
CIA Director: Mike Pompeo – Jan. 11, 10 a.m.
Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao - Jan. 11, 10:15 a.m.
Secretary of Commerce: Wilbur Ross - Jan. 12, 10 a.m.
Secretary of Housing: Ben Carson, Jan. 12, 10 a.m.
Secretary of Education: Betsy DeVos – Jan. 17, 5 p.m.
Secretary of Labor: Andy Puzder – Jan. 17 (tentative)
U.N. Ambassador: Nikki Haley – Jan. 18 (tentative)
Mike Pence, Vice President
Jeff Sessions, Attorney General
John Kelly, Secretary of Homeland Security
Rex Tillerson, Secretary of State
Steven Mnuchin, Secretary of the Treasury
James Mattis, Secretary of Defense
Ryan Zinke, Secretary of the Interior
Wilbur Ross, Secretary of Commerce
Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation
Rick Perry, Secretary of Energy
Andy Puzder, Secretary of Labor
Dr. Ben Carson, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Tom Price, Secretary of Health and Human Services
Betsy DeVos, Secretary of Education
Cabinet-Rank Positions
White House Chief of Staff: Reince Priebus
Chief Strategist and Senior Adviser: Steve Bannon
Environmental Protection Agency: Scott Pruitt
United Nations Ambassador: Nikki Haley
Council of Economic Advisers: Gary Cohn
Small Business Administration: Linda McMahon
Office of Management & Budget: Mick Mulvaney
Counselor to the President: Kellyanne Conway
Director of National Intelligence: Dan Coats
Senior Advisor to the President: Jared Kushner