US Senate begins confirming Obama Cabinet

WASHINGTON Jan 20 (Reuters) - The Democratic-led U.S. Senate began confirming new President Barack Obama's Cabinet on Tuesday, but it put off until Wednesday a vote on the designee for secretary of state, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

In a single unanimous vote, the Senate confirmed Steven Chu as energy secretary, Tom Vilsack as agriculture secretary, Arne Duncan as education secretary, Ken Salazar as interior secretary and Janet Napolitano as secretary of homeland security. It also approved Peter Orszag as head of the White House budget office.

Obama's fellow Democrats had wanted Clinton also approved on Tuesday. But Sen. John Cornyn of Texas demanded a debate first regarding his concerns about foreign donations to a foundation created by Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton. A vote on that nomination was scheduled for Wednesday.

(Reporting by Thomas Ferraro; editing by Frances Kerry)