Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said he supports delaying all of President Donald Trump's cabinet nominees who do not have unanimous support in the Senate.
Majority Leader John Thune (R.S.D.) on Tuesday challenged John Ratcliffe's candidacy for CIA Director, Kristi Noem's candidacy for Homeland Security Secretary, and Pete Hegseth's candidacy for Secretary of Defense. But a last-minute objection from Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) delayed the vote on Ratcliffe, sparking hours of debate and a confirmation vote on President Trump's national security nominee later this week. , possibly postponed until the weekend.
“I don't think it's too much to ask that we make sure we have two days of serious debate on the Senate floor,” Murphy said on the Senate floor, adding that Democrats have “grave concerns” about President Trump's CIA. Added choose.
The Senate voted 74-25 to confirm Ratcliffe on Thursday afternoon.
Sen Thun suggests staying until weekend to confirm Trump nominee after Democratic vote postponed: 'It shouldn't be difficult'
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D.Y.) speaks at a press conference with other Senate Democrats about reproductive rights on January 22, 2025 in Washington. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Asked Thursday if he supported delaying the confirmation process for President Trump's nominees, Schumer said he did.
“Look, we have candidates like [Secretary of State Marco] Mr. Rubio received broad support, but no detailed discussion — regarding Mr. Ratcliffe, in particular, when asked how he would react if Tulsi Gabbard was appointed to his role at the DNI, I said some I have doubts,” Schumer said, referring to Trump's remarks. Selected as head of the National Intelligence Agency.
New Republican senator protests Democratic 'delay-seeking' Pentagon Pete Hegseth
John Ratcliffe, Donald Trump's nominee to head the CIA, appears at his Senate intelligence confirmation hearing at the Capitol on January 15, 2025. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
“It takes a day or two or even hours to thoroughly and absolutely vet these candidates who have this much power,” he added. “Our idea is to make sure that if they try to force their way through, the whole truth comes out. We don't want that to happen.”
Thune on Tuesday expressed frustration with Democrats' delay strategy.
Approval of Trump nominees continues to be delayed due to administrative delays at federal agencies
Republican Majority Leader John Thune, R.S.D. (Getty Images)
“Do you want to vote for these people on Tuesday, or do you want to vote on Friday, Saturday and Sunday? Because that's what we're trying to do. Sometimes this is easy, sometimes it's difficult,” Thun said. said. “This is about America. national security interests; And that won't happen because we're stuck. ”
Ratcliffe was confirmed by the Senate Intelligence Committee on a bipartisan vote of 14-3. As such, Thun said voting to confirm him “shouldn't be difficult.”
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“Democrats and Republicans agree on a bipartisan basis that he is extremely qualified for this job,” Thune said, adding that he did not know what the stall would entail.
Elizabeth Pritchett of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
