Senate votes on confirming Scott Pruitt to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency could come as soon as Thursday and Friday this week. Pruitt's office in Oklahoma has stonewalled open-records requests from environmentalists for his emails with energy companies -- and the first court hearing seeking to compel disclosure is scheduled for Thursday.

"Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is teeing up votes on six additional Trump nominees as Republicans try to end a Democratic slow walk of the president's picks.

McConnell filed cloture on Monday night for Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.) to lead the Office of Management and Budget, Scott Pruitt to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, Wilbur Ross to head the Commerce Department, Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) to be the Interior secretary, Ben Carson to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry to be Energy secretary."

Jordain Carney reports for The Hill February 13, 2017. [2]