Health emergency preparedness nominee advances on party lines - Live Updates
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee moved several Trump administration nominees forward this Thursday, clearing the path for floor votes. Sean Kaufman, the nominee for the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, advanced after Chair Bill Cassidy confirmed his support. This decision followed recent hearings where Kaufman addressed past statements regarding vaccine safety. Kaufman currently serves as a senior adviser at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and co-founded a biosafety consulting firm.
Erica Schwartz also secured committee approval for the position of director at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Her nomination moved forward with a 13-10 vote. Schwartz, a career civil servant and former deputy surgeon general, gained support from Chair Bill Cassidy and Senator Tim Kaine. This progress occurs as the agency prepares to establish a permanent leadership structure following previous turnover during the current administration.
Meanwhile, the Senate Finance Committee acted on separate legislative matters, defeating a Democratic effort to block a plan shielding President Trump from specific IRS audits. The committee voted 14-13 along party lines to maintain the current path for the tax-administration bill. Chair Mike Crapo noted that the legislation remains focused on streamlining IRS operations rather than addressing the audit immunity dispute. Senators continue to negotiate the details of the agreement to ensure the broader bill reaches the floor for a final vote.
Discussions regarding the nomination of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche remain at an impasse. Key Republican senators, including John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, are pushing for written modifications to a DOJ settlement agreement before proceeding with a committee vote. Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed his intent to resolve these outstanding issues quickly to avoid delaying confirmation before the upcoming recess. The Senate also plans to integrate language allowing year-round E15 fuel sales into the forthcoming farm bill, aiming to balance agricultural interests with refining industry concerns.