Latest Government appointments and nominations News

Trump's picks for key positions in his second administration

Dec. 04, 2024 15:18 PM EST

President-elect Donald Trump has filled the key posts for his second term in office, prioritizing loyalty to him after he felt bruised and hampered by internal squabbling during his first term. Some of his choices could face difficult confirmation fights in the Senate, even with...

With 13 newcomers, South Carolina Senate may tackle tough issues

Dec. 04, 2024 17:05 PM EST

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — With the largest number of newly elected members at least since World War II, Republican South Carolina Senate leaders are thinking about tackling some issues like tax reform that have long been too tough to handle. The 13 new senators — nine Republicans and...

Hamas and Fatah are near an agreement on who will oversee postwar Gaza

Dec. 04, 2024 03:02 AM EST

CAIRO (AP) — Palestinian officials say Fatah and Hamas are closing in on an agreement to appoint a committee of politically independent technocrats to administer the Gaza Strip after the war. It would effectively end Hamas' rule and could help advance ceasefire talks with Israel. ...

Democrats stick with Schumer as leader. Their strategy for countering Trump is far less certain

Dec. 03, 2024 17:20 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats reelected Chuck Schumer as party leader on Tuesday as the party moves into a deeply uncertain time, with no real consensus on a strategy as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office. Schumer faced no opposition in the party leadership...

Recess appointments could put Trump at odds with conservatives on the Supreme Court

Dec. 01, 2024 07:43 AM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans will control the White House and both houses of Congress come January. But President-elect Donald Trump's intent to nominate loyalists to fill key Cabinet posts has set up a possible confrontation with the Senate, which has the constitutional responsibility for...

Trump fills out his economic team with two veterans of his first administration

Nov. 26, 2024 23:25 PM EST

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. Trump on Tuesday announced he has chosen international trade...

Trump's team is delaying transition agreements. What does it mean for security checks and governing?

Nov. 21, 2024 15:22 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump 's team still hasn't signed agreements that are required to formally begin the transition process to the White House — meaning the government can't provide security clearances and briefings to incoming administration officials and the FBI can't...

Lawmakers are concerned about background checks of Trump's Cabinet picks as red flags surface

Nov. 20, 2024 16:18 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — As senators prepare to consider President-elect Donald Trump's picks for his Cabinet, they may be doing so without a well-established staple of the confirmation process: an FBI background check. The Trump transition team has so far not signed the requisite...

Trump sets records with pace of appointments, but that doesn't mean the transition is going smoothly

Nov. 19, 2024 17:37 PM EST

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — In the two weeks since Election Day, President-elect Donald Trump has been setting records with the pace of appointments for his incoming administration. But speed shouldn’t be confused with organization. Trump has pumped out more than two dozen...

DeSantis aims to appoint Marco Rubio's Senate replacement by early January

Nov. 18, 2024 17:52 PM EST

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Floridians will likely know who their next U.S. senator will be by the beginning of January, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Monday. With Florida's senior Sen. Marco Rubio tapped to be President-elect Donald Trump's secretary of state, it's up to...