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Trump Eyes Recess Appointments to Push Controversial Cabinet Picks

President-elect Trump considers bypassing Senate confirmation for key nominees, raising constitutional concerns and intraparty tensions.

  • President-elect Donald Trump is exploring the use of recess appointments to secure confirmation of controversial cabinet nominees despite Republican control of the Senate.
  • Recess appointments, which allow the president to bypass Senate confirmation during congressional recesses, have faced legal and constitutional scrutiny, including a 2014 Supreme Court ruling limiting their use.
  • Trump has conditioned his support for Senate leadership candidates on their willingness to enable recess appointments, with John Thune ultimately winning the GOP Senate leadership race.
  • Some Republicans, including Senators Lisa Murkowski and Thom Tillis, have expressed opposition to the plan, citing the Senate's constitutional role in confirming executive appointments.
  • Legal experts warn that pursuing recess appointments could provoke a constitutional crisis, especially if Trump seeks to adjourn Congress unilaterally to create a recess.
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