The U.S. Senate has confirmed Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency. As Oklahoma attorney general, he sued the agency many times in that pursuit and has vowed to curb the EPA's regulatory reach once in office.

"He's exceptionally qualified," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. "He's dedicated to environmental protection. And, as someone with state government experience, he understands the real-world consequences of EPA actions and knows that balance is the key to making policies that are sustainable over the long-term."

The vote came a day after a federal judge ruled the Oklahoma attorney general's office must turn over thousands of emails related to Pruitt's communications with fossil fuel companies, which have a large presence in his state.

Environmental activists and many Democrats pushed to delay the confirmation vote until those emails are released -- probably sometime next week -- but Republicans had no interest in a delay, especially after Democrats deliberately slow-walked the confirmation process for many of President Donald Trump's Cabinet.

The Senate is now scheduled to begin a week long recess and will return to confirm more cabinet nominees when they return.