GOP Calls For Major Change
Democrats Stonewall President Trump’s Agenda
Senate Republicans are gearing up for a major showdown as Democrats continue to stall more than 140 of President Trump’s nominees—many of them routine, noncontroversial appointments critical to running the federal government.
Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) slammed Democrats for engaging in what he calls “deliberate obstruction” that is leaving the Trump administration dangerously understaffed.
“Confirming even the most routine nominees has become a bitter fight,” Barrasso wrote in a recent op-ed. “Democrats have broken their constitutional duty of advice and consent and replaced it with delay and sabotage.”
A Breakdown of Senate Tradition
For decades, both parties swiftly approved lower-level executive branch nominees. Under Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, nearly 98% of nominees were approved quickly. Even George W. Bush and Barack Obama saw around 90% confirmed without major fights.
But during Trump’s presidency, Democrats changed the rules of the game. In his first term, only 65% of nominees were approved in a timely manner. Now, in Trump’s second term, not one civilian nominee has been confirmed by voice vote—a deliberate blockade unlike anything in modern American history.
Instead of honoring precedent, Democrats have forced time-wasting roll-call votes on over 40 noncontroversial appointments that once sailed through in seconds.
Republicans Push Back with Rule Changes
To end this gridlock, Senate Republicans are considering historic reforms to stop Democrat obstruction. Plans include:
✅ Confirming groups of lower-level nominees in batches.
✅ Eliminating the unnecessary “cloture” hurdle that burns precious Senate time.
✅ Cutting the post-cloture delay from hours to just 15 minutes.
Barrasso warned that nearly half of the 145 nominees currently stalled already have bipartisan support in committee—yet remain stuck in what he calls “Senate procedural purgatory.”
Trump Rejects Schumer’s Games
In a tense standoff before the August recess, Senate Republican Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) attempted to clear nominees, but Democrats—led by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)—refused to cooperate.
When Schumer tried to leverage the nominees in exchange for concessions on frozen funding, President Trump flatly rejected the deal, telling him to “go to hell.”
Republicans are also weighing whether to use an extended recess to give Trump power to make recess appointments, though a few moderates like Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) have expressed caution.
Still, Barrasso made it clear: “Senate Republicans are determined to confirm President Trump’s qualified nominees one way or another.”
What’s at Stake
This fight isn’t just about personnel—it’s about whether Democrats can paralyze a duly elected president and block him from governing.
“For decades, noncontroversial nominees moved through the Senate with bipartisan cooperation,” Barrasso said. “Democrats destroyed this tradition. The American people chose Trump and Republicans to get America back on track—not to watch Washington grind to a halt.”
