President Donald Trump scored two major victories last week when the Senate confirmed Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard along with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr.

Trump appears to be on the verge of another win after senators voted 52 to 45 in favor of advancing another nominee. 

Lawmakers clear the way for confirmation vote

According to Fox News, the Senate invoked cloture on Thursday, thus ending debate over Trump's choice to head the Commerce Department.

Howard Lutnick is CEO and chairman of the investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald and previously served as co-chair of the president's 2024 transition team.

Trump's nominee for Commerce secretary passes key vote in the Senate https://t.co/MjT1RR8gkV

— Fox News Politics (@foxnewspolitics) February 13, 2025

The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee voted 16-12 earlier this month to advance Lutnick to this week's procedural vote.

That move came six days after Lutnick testified for approximately three hours before members of the Senate Commerce Committee.

Lutnick promises to sell his business interests should he be confirmed

Lutnick pledged to divest himself of commercial interests, stating, "Upon confirmation, my businesses will be for sale and someone else will lead them going forward."

"My plan is to only serve the American people. So I will divest — meaning I will sell all of my interests, all of my business interests, all of my assets, everything," Lutnick told lawmakers.

"I've worked together with the Office of Government Ethics, and we've reached agreement on how to do that, and I will be divesting within 90 days upon my confirmation," the financial mogul promised.

Fox News pointed out that should he be confirmed Lutnick will be one of the Trump administration's wealthiest figures, second only to Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) head Elon Musk.

Trump says Lutnick will play a key role in administration's trade policies

The network recalled how for his part, Trump heralded Lutnick's nomination just two weeks after he was elected president.

"I am thrilled to announce that Howard Lutnick, Chairman & CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, will join my Administration as the United States Secretary of Commerce," Trump was quoted as saying late last year.

"He will lead our Tariff and Trade agenda, with additional direct responsibility for the Office of the United States Trade Representative," the president insisted.

He went on to hail Lutnick for having "created the most sophisticated process and system to assist us in creating the greatest Administration America has ever seen."