on january 11, 2017, tillerson's congressional confirmation hearing was held. tillerson was approved by the senate foreign relations committee on january 23, 2017, to be secretary of state when it voted 11-10 to send his nomination to the full senate. the senate confirmed tillerson as secretary of state on february 1 2017. the senate voted 56 to 43, with all republicans in support and 42 democrats voting against him.