Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) announced he is considering an extended recess for the Senate, which could enable President Trump to make a break appointment and address his backlog of pending candidates.
Earlier this year, Thune had been hesitant about a long-term break but seems to be reevaluating as the Senate grapples with a significant backlog of 161 candidates. Historically, filling these lower-level positions has often been addressed through audio voting or unanimous consent to expedite the process.
“I think everything is still on the table,” Thune remarked to reporters, noting that there are alternatives like modifying Senate rules, which some believe could lead to more effective solutions.
Thune added, “Changing the rules might serve us better in the long run, but right now, I’m not dismissing any options.” Several Republicans within the GOP are discussing whether an extended recess would expedite Trump’s ability to fill these vacant positions more efficiently.
Supporters of the recess appointment approach argue that with so many nominations pending, reaching consensus on rules changes may just take too long and might not even be robust enough to resolve the backlog quickly.
Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) shared his frustrations, referring to the situation as “completely broken and out of control,” and emphasized the pressing need to find a solution.
However, there are hurdles to instituting an extended recess. First, Thune requires at least 50 Republican votes to move forward with the break, and two GOP senators—Thom Tillis (NC) and Lisa Murkowski (AK)—have expressed concerns about this strategy.
Furthermore, the House must also agree to a resolution for a long-term recess, as this would allow the president to make appointments without facing the usual session constraints. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has not indicated plans for his members to vote on such a resolution just yet, but that may change depending on Senate decisions regarding Trump’s potential appointments.
