Overview
- The latest 97-nominee package passed 53–43 along party lines as senators wrapped up the year.
- Republicans said the rule change was needed to overcome Democratic obstruction, while Democrats criticized the picks and threatened retaliation when in power.
- The change applied to lower-level executive posts such as sub-Cabinet, ambassadors, and U.S. attorneys, not Cabinet secretaries, federal judges, or the Supreme Court.
- Roughly 60% of the 417 confirmations occurred after September, leaving about 15 nominees still awaiting votes.
- Recent approvals included Anthony D'Esposito as Labor Department inspector general and two NLRB members, James Murphy and Scott Mayer.