Republicans to change Senate rules to stop Democrats’ block on nominations

Republicans are considering changing the Senate’s rules to get President Donald Trump’s executive branch nominees confirmed. There’s currently a backlog of civilian nominees who require Senate approval to officially take office, but Democrats are halting their progress. 

“[Senate Minority Leader] Chuck Schumer is entering the find out stage of his unprecedented obstruction,” Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., told Straight Arrow News. “Because we’re going to move forward — whether it’s recess appointments or processing these nominees — not in two hours, but maybe in 10 minutes, to get the Senate back to where it always was.” 

There are approximately 150 civilian nominees waiting for approval. That includes foreign ambassadors, sub-Cabinet positions like under secretaries and assistant secretaries, and even jobs below the sub-Cabinet level. They have all been blocked in a historic move by Senate Democrats.

Now, Republicans are considering ways to expedite the confirmation process for these positions. 

“So it just collapses all the time, the two hours that we’re having for the assistant secretary of an under department of something else that most people don’t even know what it is. Those sorts of positions,” Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., told reporters. “Not that they’re not important, but I don’t necessarily think that they require the same scrutiny as a Supreme Court justice, a Cabinet member or a sub-Cabinet member.”

According to data provided by Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s office, the number of civilian nominees confirmed by voice vote or unanimous consent has plummeted since the George H.W. Bush administration. Thirty-five years ago, 98% were confirmed without objection. Over the years, that sank until it hit today’s new low — none. 

“Republicans are pissed,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said. “I mean, at this time during Biden’s term, he had like 46 people confirmed by voice vote; we haven’t had one. And you know, this needs to stop.” 

Republicans are considering the following options: 

• Approve nominees in groups or blocs, instead of one at a time.
• Eliminate the waiting period after a nominee is approved in committee and immediately move to the final floor vote.
• Enter into a formal recess, so the president can make recess appointments.

“It’s unfair to President Trump, who can’t get his team on the field, and it’s unfair to the people who volunteered to serve in these important offices, who have just been sort of left hanging out there for months on end,” Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said. 

Normally, both parties come to an agreement that allows nominees to bypass certain parts of the approval process so everything moves faster using unanimous consent. What’s technically happening here is Democrats are forcing Republicans to do it step-by-step — by the book. 

“We have rules on what it takes to get somebody nominated. And all we’re doing is saying, abide by the rules,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said.  “If the Republicans don’t want to abide by the rules and they want unanimous consent from the Democrats in order to waive the rules, then what are they offering the Democrats?”

The Senate is supposed to leave town for its August recess at the end of the week. It’s not yet known if they’ll stay longer to get more nominees approved.