In Washington, Senate Republicans are preparing to change Senate rules to expedite confirmation votes for President Donald Trump’s executive branch nominees after months of Democratic delays. Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced Monday that the current process, which allows a single senator to delay votes on individual nominees for days, is “unsustainable.” He warned that continued obstruction would prevent filling all vacancies during Trump’s term.
The proposed rule change would enable grouped votes on lower-level executive nominees, including undersecretaries and ambassadors, but would exclude Cabinet and lifetime judicial appointments. Procedural votes on the change could occur as early as Thursday, with a first batch of 48 nominees targeted for confirmation soon after. A person familiar with the GOP plan, speaking anonymously, confirmed these details.
Republicans have considered altering the rules since early August, following a breakdown in bipartisan negotiations over confirmations. Democrats have blocked nearly all of Trump’s nominees, forcing Republicans to spend significant floor time on procedural votes. Trump expressed frustration with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, telling him to “GO TO HELL!” on social media after talks collapsed.
Schumer defended the delays, calling Trump’s nominees “historically bad” and emphasizing the need for debate and transparency. He cautioned Republicans, “I say to my Republican colleagues, think carefully before taking this step… it’s going to be a decision you will come to regret.”
This move follows years of escalating Senate conflicts over nominations, including rule changes in 2013 and 2017 that lowered confirmation vote thresholds.
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