The Republican-controlled Senate failed to confirm two Trump nominations, losing the votes by 39-48 margins, as 12 Republican Senators were absent from the daily session, Politico reports.
The nominations by lame duck president Donald Trump that failed were John Chase Johnson to become inspector general of the Federal Communications Commission and Eric Soskin to become inspector general of the Department of Transportation.
The Senate has also failed to act on a coronavirus relief package, a priority for Democrats and some Republicans as cases spike across the nation and vaccines supplies are in short supply because of administrative snafus of the administration. Knowing that he was going to lose the vote, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell voted against the nominations, giving him the opportunity to bring them back onto the floor for another vote.