A showdown in the Senate over President Donald Trump’s nominees escalated Saturday, with little progress made as Republicans and Democrats remained at odds over how to proceed.
Though lawmakers were expected to have already left Washington for recess, Trump’s insistence on confirming his nominees amid a historic Democratic blockade has kept the Senate in session. By late afternoon, negotiations remained deadlocked.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., acknowledged the stalemate, telling Fox News Digital, “Unfortunately, not really, no.” He added, “The Dems are dug in on a position that’s just not working.”
Talks among Senate Republicans, Democrats, and the White House continued, with Thune and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., having last met Friday night. Since then, communication between the two leaders has been conducted through intermediaries, though Thune anticipated more direct talks later Saturday.
Republicans are pushing for a deal to expedite floor votes on nominees who received bipartisan committee support. However, Schumer has not agreed to such terms.
A source familiar with the discussions said Senate Democrats are seeking concessions including the release of funds withheld by the White House and assurances against future rescission packages, which are key concerns ahead of looming government funding deadlines. In exchange, they’ve proposed advancing one group of nominees now and another in the fall.
Meanwhile, Trump, from his Bedminster, N.J., golf club, has insisted that the Senate remain in session and approve all pending nominees—now numbering over 150. He praised Senate Republicans on Truth Social for “fighting, over the Weekend and far beyond, if necessary, in order to get my great Appointments approved, and on their way to helping us MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
He also slammed Democrats: “The Radical Left Democrat Senators are doing everything possible to DELAY these wonderful and talented people from being approved. If George Washington or Abraham Lincoln were up for approval, the Dems would delay, as long as possible, then vote them out.”
Despite confirming over 100 of Trump’s nominees so far, only Secretary of State Marco Rubio has cleared the Senate floor without objection. None of the other nominees have received voice votes or unanimous consent, both of which were frequently used under previous administrations. At this point in Biden’s term four years ago, 49 nominees had been confirmed by voice vote.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., laid out three options being considered by Republicans: negotiating a deal, adjourning to allow Trump to make recess appointments, or pursuing a rules change—dubbed the “nuclear option” by some.
Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., said Democrats’ actions could determine whether Republicans pursue the recess appointment path: “The Democrats’ obstruction is leading to, in very short order, us taking the necessary actions to give the President power to make recess appointments.”
Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., indicated support for a rules change if no agreement is reached, stating, “I think that’d be best.”
Still, the preferred route among GOP senators is a deal that would approve more than 60 nominees who cleared committee with bipartisan support.
“The reason why we’re that way is because Schumer led us down this road,” Mullin said. “He didn’t have to do it this way.”
