Senate Republicans Seek Changes to Confirmation Process
On Wednesday, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) indicated plans for Senate Republicans to advance a proposal next month aimed at revising rules related to over 140 stalled candidates from former President Trump.
In an Op-Ed for the Wall Street Journal, Barrasso highlighted that Trump has over 1,000 senior-level appointments requiring Senate confirmation. Despite this, due to strong Democratic opposition, only 135 of these positions have been addressed by the Senate so far.
“Even the most routine candidates have become a battleground. It’s time to rethink the Senate confirmation rules,” Barrasso stated.
He criticized Democrats for failing in their duty to provide “advice and consent,” noting that such a slow process was unprecedented under previous administrations.
Barrasso observed that during the presidencies of George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, 98% of their nominees were confirmed quickly, often through voice votes or unanimous consent. He also referenced that 90% of George W. Bush’s nominees received similar treatment.
However, he noted that the rate of swift confirmations has significantly declined during Trump’s term and now into Biden’s. Only 65% of Trump’s candidates and 57% of Biden’s were confirmed promptly.
Interestingly, this year, Democrats have not confirmed a single Trump nominee via voice vote or unanimous consent. Barrasso pointed out that “the scale of the blockade is astonishing,” with multiple roll-call votes required for over 40 candidates that were once seen as routine.
“What used to take just a few seconds now drags on for days,” he remarked.
He also mentioned that nearly half of the 145 candidates approved by committee are awaiting Senate floor action and have received bipartisan support, yet they remain “trapped in procedural purgatory.”
In the meantime, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has been attempting to expedite the confirmation process before the Senate’s August recess, engaging in discussions to alleviate the backlog of candidates.
However, Trump has rejected Schumer’s proposals, stating to New York Senators, “go to hell.”
Republicans are currently evaluating several modifications to the rules to expedite the confirmation of these candidates. Suggestions include allowing the majority to consider nominees in groups, cutting down on lengthy voting procedures, and reducing the wait time between votes.
“Senate Republicans are committed to finding a way to get Trump’s qualified candidates through,” Barrasso wrote. He also proposed making it easier for Trump to appoint candidates directly if necessary, though there are some concerns among Republicans regarding this approach.
Barrasso concluded by pointing out that for decades, non-controversial candidates were typically processed swiftly, emphasizing that Democrats have disrupted this tradition by treating all Trump’s nominees as contentious. “The American public has entrusted President Trump and Republicans to get the nation back on course, not to become mired in delays and obstructions,” he added.
