Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
President Trump's energy and environmental nominees will start getting confirmed today, but they could see fresh opposition in light of the OMB funding freeze.
Why it matters: The Trump administration is backing down on the pause, but it has already escalated tensions between Democrats and the new administration.
Driving the news: EPA nominee Lee Zeldin is on track for confirmation this afternoon after clearing a vote to break the filibuster 56-42 Wednesday.
- Three Democrats — Sens. Mark Kelly, Ruben Gallego and John Fetterman — joined Republicans in supporting his nomination.
- Prospective Interior Secretary Doug Burgum will also get a cloture vote Wednesday afternoon.
Zoom in: A federal court temporarily halted the freeze yesterday, and OMB has rescinded the original memo that caused the frenzy.
- Some Democrats have nonetheless told us it's prompting them to vote against nominees they would have otherwise supported.
- "I think there'll be heavier sledding for the other nominees until this gets sorted out," Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse told Axios before the OMB announcement Wednesday.
- Appropriations Ranking Member Patty Murray told reporters before the announcement that spending talks are in jeopardy.
- "It is extremely difficult to agree to a compromise on anything if the White House is going to assert that they control the funds, we don't," she said.
Yes, but: Energy and Natural Resources Ranking Member Martin Heinrich implied to Nick that it wouldn't cause him to oppose Burgum or DOE pick Chris Wright on the floor (he supported both in committee).
- "I don't necessarily think that's the that's where our best leverage lies right now," he said.
- "You kind of have to ask yourself, if not this nominee, would you get someone who is more likely to be an adult in the room, or less likely to be an adult in the room?"
- Sen. John Hickenlooper also said he'll still support Wright.
What's next: Burgum's next up for confirmation. We're also likely to see a procedural vote on Wright's nomination soon.
