Bondi was confirmed by a vote of 54-46, and will now take the reins at the Justice Department at a moment when it is facing questions about the risk of political influence at the department.

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 Senate has confirmed Pam Bondi as U.S. attorney general. Her confirmation puts 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.