Betsy DeVos confirmed as US education secretary as VP Pence splits tie-break
Donald Trump came mightily close to an embarrassing rejection of his education secretary pick Betsy DeVos in a Senate vote on Tuesday, after Vice President Mike Pence had to split a tie-break in her favour.
Billionaire DeVos faced a rigorous hearing from senators in the Capitol in the weeks prior to the vote, with Democrats arguing that she was not sufficiently experienced for the position.
Pence, who holds the position of President of the Senate as well as Trump's number two, was called in to separate the deadlock after two Republicans defied party lines to vote against DeVos, leaving a 50-50 split.
Democrats were immediately critical of the decision, including their Senate leader Chuck Schumer.
"This cabinet nom is so unqualified, so divisive, that @MikePenceVP had to drive down Pennsylvania Ave to cast the deciding vote," Schumer wrote in a Twitter post.
Cabinet nominees with such low support from the Senate have traditionally withdrawn their nomination, but DeVos did not give any indication of doing so. Senate officials said it had been unprecedented that a vote would have to be decided by tiebreak.
President Trump congratulated DeVos on her confirmation, and Pence praised her via Twitter also, saying that "Today's vote to confirm Education Secretary @BetsyDeVos was a vote for every child having a chance at a world-class education."
Trump attacked Democrats for their intense scrutiny of his cabinet nominees late last night, referr ingto it as a "disgrace".
"It is a disgrace that my full Cabinet is still not in place, the longest such delay in the history of our country. Obstruction by Democrats!"