President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday called for Republican lawmakers to support his plan to appoint key officials without the need for Senate confirmation votes, a move aimed at curbing the influence of Senate Democrats in the approval process for his administration's appointments.
Under the U.S. Constitution, the Senate is required to vote to confirm presidential nominations for senior positions, such as cabinet roles and judicial appointments. However, there is a constitutional provision that allows the president to bypass Senate confirmation if the chamber is in an extended recess.
Trump took to social media, stating, "Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments." He argued that the traditional voting process could take years and referenced his first term in office, when many of his nominees faced lengthy delays.
The appeal to bypass the confirmation process comes as Republican senators are preparing to select their next leader, who will hold significant power once the party takes control of the Senate in January. With only a narrow majority, Trump is looking to ensure his administration is not hampered by the Democrats' ability to block appointments.
The three senators competing to become the Republican leader in the Senate responded to Trump's demand with varying degrees of support. Senator Rick Scott of Florida expressed strong backing, stating, "100% agree. I will do whatever it takes to get your nominations through as quickly as possible." John Thune of South Dakota, the current number two Senate Republican, added, "We must act quickly and decisively to get the president's nominees in place as soon as possible, & all options are on the table to make that happen, including recess appointments."
Senator John Cornyn of Texas echoed their sentiments, criticizing Senate Democrats for their attempts to block cabinet appointments. He said, "If they do, we will stay in session, including weekends, until they relent. Additionally, the Constitution expressly confers the power on the President to make recess appointments."
Trump also called on the Senate to halt any pending judicial nominations, accusing Democrats of trying to rush their nominees through while Republicans focus on leadership elections. "No Judges should be approved during this period of time because the Democrats are looking to ram through their Judges as the Republicans fight over Leadership. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE," Trump posted.
During President Joe Biden's term, the Democrats used their narrow control of the Senate to push through hundreds of federal judges, seeking to counterbalance the conservative appointments made by Trump during his first term. Now, with Republicans regaining control, Trump aims to prevent any last-minute judicial confirmations by the Democrats and expedite the installation of his own nominees without the delays of Senate votes.
