A procedural objection by Senator Michael Bennet blockeda major slate of President Donald Trump’s nominees on Thursday, with Bennet taking aim at Sara Carter (who also goes by Sarah Bailey), the president’s pick to oversee national drug policy.
Carter, a former Fox News contributor and one of Trump’s most visible appointees this year, has drawn attention not only for her background but also for her stated support for legalizing medical marijuana. Carter has also expressed support for reforming federal psychedelic laws, especially when it comes to psilocybin laws. She said in 2024 that she supports federal medical legalization. Especially when it comes to psilocybin policy.
Carter was included in a batch of 88 nominees that Republicans attempted to move forward at once. Under Senate rules, positions like the head of federal drug policy require individual consideration rather than advancement through a simple majority vote. Because Carter was bundled with the larger group, Republicans would have needed a three-fifths majority to proceed, an outcome that appeared out of reach.
Bennet said the procedural block was necessary to prevent what he called unqualified nominees from advancing. He specifically singled out Carter, arguing that her inclusion undermined the rules governing drug policy appointments. His objection halted consideration of all 88 nominees.
In his statement, Bennet said “I just blocked 88 Trump nominees from confirmation, including Sara Carter Bailey, a former Fox News contributor nominated to be our country’s Drug Czar.” Bennet says “Bailey was nominated by Trump, who just pardoned the former President of Honduras, as he served 45 years in prison for conspiring to distribute over 400 tons of cocaine.”
Despite Bennet’s objection delaying consideration, Sara Carter is still expected to win Senate confirmation in the coming weeks. By taking up her nomination individually, the Senate can confirm her with a 60-vote majority rather than the higher two-thirds threshold required for approving nominees as a group.
Carter’s nomination has been notable in part because she has publicly supported legalizing medical marijuana, aligning with an increasingly bipartisan policy direction at the state level. Last year she said “I do believe that cannabis for medicinal purposes and medical reasons is a fantastic way of handling, especially for people with cancer and other illnesses, handling the illness and the side effects of the medication and those illnesses.”
She added “I don’t have any problem if it’s legalized and it’s monitored.”
Her position stands out within federal drug policy circles, where past nominees have largely resisted reform. Supporters of Carter argue that her stance reflects a shift toward recognizing medical access and patient need, even as her critics question her qualifications for the role.
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