WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 20 (UPI) — The incoming Trump administration will hold over several key members of the Obama administration’s national security team until it finds replacements.
About 50 individuals on the National Security Committee and at the State Department will remain in their posts for at least the initial part of the Trump administration. The decision was made to provide “continuity of government,” according to Trump press secretary Sean Spicer.
While a large number of second-tier positions remain unfilled as Trump takes the reins of power, two of his most important Cabinet appointees appear headed for easy confirmation in the Senate on Friday.
Democrats agreed to set confirmation votes for Ret. Gen. James Mattis, Trump’s pick for defense secretary, and Ret. Gen. John Kelly, who will run the Department of Homeland Security. Both individuals are likely to receive wide bipartisan support in confirmation votes scheduled for Friday afternoon.
The remainder of Trump’s Cabinet choices will have to wait at least a few days before officially joining the administration. Notably, Democrats have pointedly questioned Steve Mnuchin, a Wall Street executive whom Trump has tapped for treasury secretary; Rex Tillerson, the former Exxon CEO whom Trump wants as secretary of state; and Betsy DeVos, the billionaire Republican activist put forth to run the Department of Education.
Senate Democrats have threatened to delay confirmation votes if Trump’s nominees do not submit to more questioning.
Though Democrats have maintained stiff opposition, it remains unlikely any of Trump’s nominees will fail to win confirmation. Typically, incoming presidents are granted wide latitude by the opposition party to name Cabinet secretaries of their choosing.
