Latest news with #StephenVaden
E&E News
a day ago
- Business
- E&E News
Senate confirms top EPA, Agriculture nominees
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed two prominent nominees for energy and environment policy: David Fotouhi for EPA deputy administrator and Stephen Vaden for deputy Agriculture secretary. Senators confirmed Fotouhi, an industry lawyer who also served in President Donald Trump's first administration, by a vote of 53-41 along party lines. Fotouhi is the third Trump EPA pick to secure confirmation, after Administrator Lee Zeldin and general counsel Sean Donahue. A half-dozen nominations are still pending, including those of Aaron Szabo to head the Office of Air and Radiation and Jessica Kramer to lead the Office of Water. Advertisement After serving in top jobs in EPA's Office of General Counsel during Trump's first term, Fotouhi has spent the last few years as a partner at the firm of Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher, where his client list has encompassed numerous businesses regulated by EPA, including carmakers Toyota and Mercedes-Benz and Matador Resources, an oil and gas producer, according to a financial disclosure report.
E&E News
2 days ago
- Politics
- E&E News
Senate poised to confirm EPA, Agriculture nominees
The Senate is speeding to confirm David Fotouhi for EPA deputy administrator and Stephen Vaden for deputy Agriculture secretary this week. Committees are also pushing energy and environment nominees forward. More than four months after President Donald Trump took office, Fotouhi is the third of nine candidates for various EPA posts whose nomination has made it to the Senate floor. Senate lawmakers voted Monday evening 53-43 along party lines to wind down debate on Fotouhi, a lawyer who also worked at EPA during Trump's first term. A final roll call is scheduled for Tuesday. Advertisement Fotouhi's nomination won approval in March from the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on a 10-9 tally, also on party lines. Before Monday's vote, committee leaders offered starkly contrasting portrayals of Fotouhi's credentials.
E&E News
06-05-2025
- Business
- E&E News
Senate committee approves 2 USDA nominees
The Trump administration's picks for two top posts at the Agriculture Department squeaked through the Senate Agriculture Committee on a party-line vote Monday. The Republican-led committee advanced Stephen Vaden for deputy Agriculture secretary and Tyler Clarkson for general counsel on identical 12-11 votes, with all Democrats in opposition. Monday's committee action clears the way for confirmation votes on the Senate floor, where the nominees appear on their way to approval, if along largely partisan lines. Advertisement 'This is a critical step to ensure USDA has the personnel to fulfill the president's strategy to meet the needs of farm families, ranchers and rural communities,' said panel Chair John Boozman (R-Ark.) in a news release.
