TL/DR –
The U.S. Senate adjourned for its August recess without approving dozens of President Trump’s nominees, following days of bipartisan negotiations and a Twitter spat between Trump and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer. In the absence of a deal, Republicans have indicated they may try to change Senate rules in September to expedite confirmations. The impasse comes amid Donald Trump’s pressure on Senate Republicans to cancel the August recess and process his nominations as Democrats have delayed the process.
Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y., speaks during a news conference on tariffs. Credit: Mariam Zuhaib/AP
The Senate adjourned for a month-long August recess without confirming dozens of President Donald Trump’s nominees, following days of intense bipartisan negotiations and a terse social media message from Trump to Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.
As a result, Republicans may attempt to reform Senate rules in September to expedite confirmations. Trump had been pressuring senators for speedy confirmations, with Democrats blocking more nominees than average this year, thereby slowing the process.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune mentioned that Senate rules need to change, pointing to the broken nominations process. Schumer, however, warned that rules changes would be a “huge mistake.”
Both parties’ obstruction of executive branch and judicial nominees has escalated over the last two decades, leading to changes in Senate rules to accelerate confirmations. In 2013, Democrats altered Senate rules for lower court judicial nominees to remove the 60-vote threshold for confirmations as Republicans blocked President Barack Obama’s judicial picks. Republicans reciprocated in 2017 for Supreme Court nominees.
The Senate convened a rare weekend session to negotiate a deal and hold votes on nominees. However, negotiations fell apart after Trump criticized Schumer online and instructed Republicans to abandon efforts and return home.
Trump characterized Democrats negatively in his social media post: “Tell Schumer, who is under tremendous political pressure from within his own party, the Radical Left Lunatics, to GO TO HELL!”
Thune mentioned almost reaching a deal multiple times, but ultimately, it fell through. This is the first time in recent history that the minority party hasn’t allowed quick confirmations.
Democrats were reluctant to agree without reversing some of the Trump administration’s spending cuts or other incentives. Schumer expressed concern over the nominees’ qualifications: “We have never seen nominees as flawed, as compromised, as unqualified as we have right now.”
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