AICommittee advances Miran, Pulte, McKernan, and Kessler nominations

Title

Committee advances Miran, Pulte, McKernan, and Kessler nominations

Purpose

The Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee held an executive session to vote on four Trump administration nominees: Stephen Miran for Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, Jeffrey Kessler for Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, William Pulte for Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Jonathan McKernan for Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. Ranking Member Warren delivered an opening statement opposing all four nominees before the committee proceeded through roll call votes on each, reporting them favorably to the full Senate. Begins at▶ 0:25:29

Who spoke

• Chair Scott▶ 0:25:29: Opened the executive session, noting a quorum was present, and gave the ranking member two minutes for an opening statement▶ 0:25:29; presided over roll call votes on all four nominees, announcing each was reported favorably to the full Senate▶ 0:29:13▶ 0:30:33▶ 0:31:43▶ 0:32:58, and adjourned the session▶ 0:32:58.

• Sen. Warren▶ 0:25:50: Announced she would oppose all four nominees, saying they failed to give meaningful responses to committee questions▶ 0:25:50; said the CFPB nominee was sent by "co-presidents Trump and Elon Musk" to unleash scammers and fraudsters▶ 0:26:19; said Miran would rubberstamp tax breaks for billionaires and a trade war with allies▶ 0:26:40; said Pulte would not commit to blocking a Fannie/Freddie privatization that raises mortgage costs and refused to release his prior social media posts▶ 0:27:01; said Kessler could not confirm Russia was the aggressor in invading Ukraine when asked by Sen. Van Hollen, and said she could not support advancing McKernan or Kessler before FBI background investigations were complete▶ 0:27:26; voted no on each nomination during the roll calls▶ 0:28:44▶ 0:29:56▶ 0:31:14▶ 0:32:29.

Key moments

• Sen. Warren stated the CFPB nominee was being sent in to "unleash scammers, fraudsters, and cheats on the American people"▶ 0:26:19.

• Sen. Warren said Miran would rubberstamp policies including tax breaks for billionaires and a trade war with U.S. allies▶ 0:26:40.

• Sen. Warren said Pulte refused to provide any of the 25,000 posts he deleted from X after the election and would not assure the committee he'd prevent privatization of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from raising mortgage costs▶ 0:27:01.

• Sen. Warren said Kessler could not confirm to Sen. Van Hollen that Russia was the aggressor in invading Ukraine, despite the nomination's national security implications▶ 0:27:26.

• The Miran nomination for CEA Chairman was reported favorably to the full Senate on a roll call vote▶ 0:29:13.

• The Pulte nomination for FHFA Director passed 15 in favor to 9 against▶ 0:30:27▶ 0:30:33.

• The McKernan nomination for CFPB Director passed 13 in favor to 11 opposed▶ 0:31:38▶ 0:31:43.

• The Kessler nomination for Under Secretary of Commerce passed 13 in favor to 11 opposed▶ 0:32:52▶ 0:32:58.

• All four nominations were reported favorably to the full Senate, and the executive session adjourned without further member statements▶ 0:32:58.