Paul Dabbar Approved as Deputy Secretary of Commerce
Dabbar received bipartisan support and opposition in the Senate.
The U.S. Senate today held a recorded vote to confirm one individual nominated by President Donald Trump to serve in the executive branch of government - specifically in the U.S. Department of Commerce led by Secretary Howard Lutnick since February 2025.
In a 56-40 vote, Paul Dabbar was confirmed as Deputy Secretary of Commerce. The position has been held by an acting official since February 2025. Previously, Don Graves held the role as a Senate-confirmed individual from May 2021 to January 2025.
Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Mark Warner (D-VA) joined 52 Republicans in approving Dabbar’s nomination. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) along with 39 Democrats voted in opposition. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) did not vote.
Dabbar was nominated to this position by Trump in March 2025. During the first Trump term, he served as Under Secretary of Energy for Science from November 2017 to January 2021.
From 1996 to 2017, Dabbar worked as managing director at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in New York City. From 2021 to 2025, he was co-founder and CEO of Bohr Quantum Technology. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors of AirJoule and Dominion Energy.