It’s now been 120 days since President Trump began his second term. During this short time, the President has needed substantial changes to the government, changes that haven’t been seen in recent history. Several federal agencies have been closed, merged, or reformed in significant ways, leading to thousands of federal employees either being let go or moved around. And there’s more on the horizon. The President’s budget proposal for 2026 suggests a cut in discretionary spending to levels reminiscent of the early 2000s, particularly when adjusting for inflation. These moves align with Trump’s campaign promise to drastically shrink a federal bureaucracy that many see as inefficient and occasionally hostile towards American citizens.
Remarkably, he has achieved this with many obstacles in his path.
There are close to 4,000 executive departments that the President is entitled to fill to effectively govern. About 1,300 of these positions require Senate confirmation, which includes Cabinet Secretaries, agency heads, and ambassadors. Even with a somewhat aggressive confirmation schedule led by Senate majority leader John Tune, there are still 76 candidates pending in the executive branch and an additional 250 under consideration. With the current pace, it’s likely that many positions won’t be filled by the end of the fiscal year in September. Given upcoming priorities like legislative bills and judicial nominations, there’s a chance that expectations might be set even lower.
The President needs a robust team to maintain full control of the government; it’s not just his right—it’s his duty. He has the constitutional power to carry out the responsibilities of his office as he sees fit, which includes a relatively free hand in managing the bureaucracy. Traditionally, both Democratic and Republican presidents have faced challenges in managing unelected bureaucrats, reflecting a vision that seems disconnected from political accountability. This is not how the Founding Fathers intended things to operate. The Senate’s current process is limiting Trump’s ability to effectively govern and undermines his constitutional powers.
This situation clearly needs to change.
What would that look like? Some have suggested a more aggressive Senate calendar. My friend Rachel Bobbard pointed out that if the Senate concentrated solely on nominations during work hours, they could tackle their backlog in about a month. This would require a significant shift in how the Senate conducts its business, but bypassing breaks and working through holidays could allow them to confirm closer to 900 of the 1,300 candidates pending. However, this would understandably come at the cost of other legislative responsibilities.
Clearly, the current arrangement is inadequate. The old workaround of unanimous consent is losing its effectiveness. Given the expanding size and complexity of government, the increases in political appointments necessitate a fresh approach to nominations. In the short term, this could mean empowering the Senate to streamline the confirmation process.
The Founders envisioned a situation where, unlike today, the President wouldn’t be held up from filling government vacancies due to Congressional delays. Back in 1789, the limited sessions of Congress and long travel times created challenges—but the core issue remains relevant today. Senate inefficiencies shouldn’t block the President from fulfilling his roles. History grants the President authority to fill vacancies without needing immediate Senate confirmation, providing a mechanism for effective governance while still respecting the Senate’s constitutional function.
It’s no surprise that pushback from various factions has emerged against President Trump’s initiatives. Judicial judges have often overstepped to hinder the President’s efforts, and mainstream media frequently spins narratives portraying bureaucrats as victims under Trump’s administration. Surprisingly, Senate Democrats have been unwilling to consider any candidates, regardless of qualifications. Now is the moment for Congressional Republicans to unite, support their President, and utilize the rights granted to them by the Constitution to move forward.
