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3w ago

Senate GOP Moves to Use Nuclear Option to Speed Trump Nominee Confirmations

Leaders target a vote next week on an en bloc confirmation rule to clear a backlog of roughly 140 to 145 picks.

FILE-The Capitol is seen in Washington, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, as Congress is scheduled to return from their August break Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, after Labor Day. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, file)
Senate Majority Leader, Sen. John Thune, N.D. speaks to Brooke Rollins during a Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee hearing on her nomination as Secretary of Agriculture on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (USDA photo by Tom Witham)
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Overview

  • Majority Whip John Barrasso said Republicans are drafting a plan and aim to vote by the end of next week, before the Rosh Hashanah recess on Sept. 22.
  • The leading proposal would allow floor approval of multiple nominees en bloc if they advanced from the same committee, with Republicans considering a broader application.
  • GOP leaders acknowledge the change may require a partisan rules maneuver by simple majority after Democrats signaled resistance.
  • A working group led by Sens. Katie Britt, James Lankford, Ted Budd, Eric Schmitt and Ron Johnson met ahead of a special conference session to finalize options.
  • Republicans are also weighing cuts to post-cloture debate time, limits on debate for some nominations and the prospect of recess appointments, citing Democratic slow-walking of all nominees and a current backlog of about 145.