The Senate is heading towards a confirmation vote for Pam Bondi as U.S. attorney general. Her confirmation would put a longtime ally of Donald Trump at the helm of a Justice Department that has already been rattled by the firings of career employees seen as disloyal to the Republican president.

In addition to sending out letters, Senate Democrats also consumed time on Monday evening in protest of a stop in funding for USAID. Instead of advancing Bondi’s confirmation Monday, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, a Hawaii Democrat, gave extended remarks questioning the legality of ceasing spending authorized by Congress.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate confirmed Pam Bondi as U.S. attorney general Tuesday evening, putting a longtime ally of Donald Trump at the helm of a Justice Department that has already been rattled by the firings of career employees seen as disloyal to the Republican president.

Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general and longtime prosecutor, had earned praise for her pledges not to politicize the Justice Department.

The U.S. Senate confirmed Pam Bondi as the new U.S. Attorney General. By a vote of 54-46, with senators breaking along party lines. Bondi, who previously served two terms as Florida Attorney General, was nominated for the hob by President Donald Trump in November. She held statewide office from 2011 to 2019.

Pam Bondi is one step closer to becoming the next attorney general after her nomination cleared a procedural hurdle Monday. Senators voted 52-46 along party lines to approve a motion to invoke cloture on her nomination.

The U.S. Senate will vote later on Tuesday on the nomination of Pam Bondi to serve as Attorney General, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said in a