Washington — The Senate confirmed John Ratcliffe as CIA director on Thursday as Republicans work to approve officials to the top posts in President Trump's administration amid delays by Democrats.

Later this afternoon, the Senate will take a procedural vote on Pete Hegseth's nomination to serve as defense secretary. Only 50 votes will be needed to advance his nomination. If he gets the votes, a final confirmation vote could occur on Friday or early Saturday.

The Senate has confirmed former Long Island Republican Congressmember Lee Zeldin as head of the Environmental Protection Agency. Three Democrats sided with Republicans in Wednesday’s vote to confirm Zeldin: Arizona Senators Rubén Gallego and Mark Kelly and Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman.

The Senate confirmed President Donald Trump's nominee to head the US Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday, to the delight of the fossil fuel industry.

Photo: Alamy The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially has a new administrator after the Senate confirmed former New York Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin on Wednesday afternoon. In a 56-42 vote,

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican-controlled Senate on Wednesday confirmed Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, a key role to help President Donald Trump fulfill his pledge to roll back major environmental regulations, including those aimed at slowing climate change and encouraging use of electric vehicles.

The Senate is expected to vote on whether to confirm former Rep. Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.

President Donald Trump's second White House is looking a lot like the inside of Mar-a-Lago, with extremely wealthy Americans taking key roles in his Republican administration.

FILE - Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe waits to board Marine One with President Donald Trump on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Dec. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Patrick ...

President Donald Trump has kicked off his second term with a flurry of executive actions on immigration, the economy, DEI and more. Trump is discussing his economic agenda in a virtual discussion with those gathered at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

The Senate will vote today on John Ratcliffe's nomination to serve as director of the CIA. If senators approve his nomination, he will be the second member of Trump's team to be confirmed after Marco Rubio was sworn in as secretary of state earlier this week.