Trump Cabinet Picks: 'Mad Dog' Mattis Sworn In As Defense Secretary; John Kelly Becomes Head Of Homeland Security

President Donald Trump’s first two Cabinet members, Defense Secretary James “Mad Dog” Mattis and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, were sworn in Friday just hours after their boss took office.

Mattis, the former head of U.S. Central Command, and Kelly, former head of U.S. Southern Command, are the only two Cabinet nominees to have won Senate approval. The Senate acted on the two retired generals, approving Mattis 98-1 and Kelly 88-11, shortly after Trump officially submitted his list of nominees.

Vice President Mike Pence performed the honors.

It was the fewest number of Cabinet picks approved on the first day of an administration in three decades. By comparison, President Barack Obama saw seven of his picks confirmed on Day One in 2009.

Democrats held up the nomination of Mike Pompeo to head the CIA, saying he needs to be fully vetted. The vote is now scheduled for Monday.

Also facing a vote Monday is Trump’s pick for secretary of state, ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson, who has close ties to Russia. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., has said he still hasn’t decided whether to support the nomination, which is controversial in light of allegations Russia tried to influence the election in Trump’s favor.

Another of Trump’s picks, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley as U.N. ambassador, who has no international experience, has run into trouble at her confirmation hearings.

“We still have questions,” said Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., a member of the Foreign Relations Committee. “[Until] the end of close of business today we can still ask questions. ... We need to get the answers before we vote.”

Trump’s pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, who spent much of his career fighting EPA regulations, acknowledgedduring his confirmation hearing that global warming is real, reversing earlier remarks in which he called it a hoax.

Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., Trump’s choice to head the Department of Health and Human Services, denied during his confirmation hearing he got insider information about an Australian biotech firm in which he invested. He also advocated on behalf of companies that contributed to his campaigns, documents indicated.

The Senate began its confirmation hearings shortly after members of the 115th Congress were sworn in Jan. 3.