Overview
- Senate Republicans are negotiating a deal to accelerate the confirmation of over 160 lower-level Trump administration nominees currently blocked by Democratic holds.
- John Thune and other GOP leaders prefer achieving rule changes with Democratic support but acknowledge a simple-majority nuclear option as a fallback.
- Senators Thom Tillis and Susan Collins have publicly ruled out using a simple-majority vote to cut debate time or eliminate cloture requirements.
- Democrats led by Chuck Schumer and Brian Schatz are open to interim compromises that would clear a targeted slate of nominees in exchange for concessions.
- Options on the table include en bloc voting for nominees, shortening post-cloture debate periods and the prospect of recess appointments if no agreement materializes.