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Cabinet appointments and nominations

White House: Hagel will win Senate confirmation
The White House on Friday dismissed criticism of Chuck Hagel's hesitant congressional testimony and insisted that it expects the Senate to confirm him ...
THE RESET: Pentagon nominee Hagel fights for job
The odds should favor Senate confirmation of Chuck Hagel as President Barack Obama's next defense secretary despite strong Republican criticism at ...
Hagel says military view shaped by Vietnam
Chuck Hagel says his experience fighting in Vietnam alongside his younger brother will shape any decision he makes to unleash military force if the ...
In Senate farewell, Kerry speaks of need to listen
His voice quavering, Secretary of State-designate John Kerry bid farewell to the Senate after 28 years with a plea for comity and cooperation.
Hagel: Window closing on Iran and diplomacy
Defense Secretary nominee Chuck Hagel said the "window is closing" on Iran and the possibility of diplomacy if it continues to ignore international ...
THE RESET: Familiar faces on Obama's 2nd-term team
President Barack Obama is much of the way through completing his second-term Cabinet and top White House staff. For many of those chosen so far, it's ...
Senate confirms Kerry nomination for State Dept.
The Senate overwhelmingly confirmed President Barack Obama's choice of five-term Sen. John Kerry to be secretary of state, with Republicans and ...
Hagel supports nuclear arms cuts, then elimination
Chuck Hagel, the likely next secretary of defense, would be the first to enter the Pentagon having publicly advocated for sharply reducing the number ...
LaHood departure leaves another vacancy in Cabinet
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who lifted the profile of distracted driving as a national safety concern, is stepping down, presenting President ...
Graham threatens to block Hagel pick over Libya
A Republican senator is threatening to block the nomination of Chuck Hagel to lead the Pentagon unless Defense Secretary Leon Panetta testifies about ...
FACT CHECK: The stretched case against Chuck Hagel
Republican-leaning groups opposing President Barack Obama's choice of Chuck Hagel to head the Defense Department have let loose a barrage of claims ...
Could Kerry, Hagel drive reboot in US-Cuba ties?
The nominee for U.S. Secretary of State, Sen. John Kerry, once held up millions of dollars in funding for secretive U.S. democracy-building programs ...
Court says Obama appointments violate constitution
President Barack Obama violated the Constitution when he bypassed the Senate last year to appoint three members of the National Labor Relations Board, ...
Pentagon: Budget crisis could hurt war effort
The Afghan war effort eventually would be harmed by across-the-board budget cuts, even as the Obama administration intends to shield the military's ...
Obama picks foreign policy aide as chief of staff
President Barack Obama announced Friday that his new chief of staff is longtime trusted aide Denis McDonough, whom the president described as a close ...
Geithner sees US economy strengthening gradually
Outgoing Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner thinks the U.S. economy will strengthen this year — as long as Congress avoids cutting spending too ...
McDonough no stranger to Obama inner circle
In selecting Denis McDonough to be his next and fifth chief of staff, President Barack Obama is tapping a longtime confidant and unflappable ally to ...
Democratic support for Hagel grows
Democratic support for Chuck Hagel's nomination for defense secretary grew on Thursday as the former Republican senator allayed concerns about his ...
Kerry tackles questions on Iran, Syria, Hagel
Sen. John Kerry, President Barack Obama's nominee for secretary of state, collected pledges of support Thursday and testified at his confirmation ...
THE RESET: John Kerry breezes through Hill hearing
The Senate confirmation process is a minefield for many presidential nominees. But Sen. John Kerry seemed to navigate those waters safely at his ...
53 senators urge approval of Keystone XL pipeline
More than half the Senate on Wednesday urged quick approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, ramping up pressure on President Barack Obama to move ...
Israeli election casts ex-TV anchor as kingmaker
Israel's election has put a suave former TV news anchor and political novice in the role of kingmaker, and he has signaled he will use his power to ...
Gay activists laud Obama speech, now want action
President Barack Obama's emphatic gay-rights advocacy in his inaugural address thrilled many activists. Yet almost immediately came the questions and ...
Time to act, Obama declares, taking oath 2nd time
Turning the page on years of war and recession, President Barack Obama summoned a divided nation Monday to act with "passion and dedication" to ...