Trump signs cabinet nominations, Rubio to be confirmed first
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, officially signed the nominations for members of his cabinet during a ceremony at the Capitol. The Senate's first confirmation is expected as early as Monday.
During a brief ceremony in the presidential room at the Capitol, Donald Trump signed a series of documents. According to CNN, these include nominations for future cabinet members, documents necessary for assuming power, and an order temporarily rescinding the half-mast flag lowering in mourning for President Jimmy Carter for one day.
Trump signed nominations for cabinet members
All cabinet nominations had already been unofficially announced by Trump on social media.
The first cabinet member to be officially confirmed by a Senate vote is expected to be Senator Marco Rubio, who will become the United States Secretary of State, still on Monday. In the following days, votes are expected on nominations including former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for United States Attorney General and Fox News presenter Pete Hegseth as head of the Pentagon. Until their confirmation, the ministries and agencies are temporarily headed by non-partisan officials operating in an acting capacity.
After the ceremony, Trump attended a ceremonial lunch with congressmen, and then he was scheduled to head to a parade in the Capital One Arena sports hall, which is set to replace the traditional parade along Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House.
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The president is likely to sign dozens more orders and memorandums the same day, including closing the border, deploying troops there, ending land rights, removing regulations on oil drilling, and declassifying documents related to, among other things, the assassination of President John Kennedy.
As Trump suggested in a speech to supporters, following the official inaugural address, these acts will also include pardons for participants in the Capitol riots. According to ABC News, these pardons will cover individuals who have not been convicted of violent crimes.
