Senate blockade continues as Trump calls for swift nominee confirmations

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The trail to a deal on confirming a slew of President Donald Trump’s nominees appeared shaky at greatest within the Senate Saturday, as Republicans and Democrats sparred over phrases and situations to discover a approach ahead.

Senators had been speculated to be lengthy gone from Washington by now, however Trump’s calls for to ram his nominees via Senate Democrats’ historic blockade have saved lawmakers on the town. However by late afternoon, not a lot progress had been made.

RECESS ON ICE AS REPUBLICANS HUNKER DOWN FOR HIGH-STAKES NOMINEE BLITZ

President Donald Trump listens at an occasion to advertise his proposal to enhance People' entry to their medical information within the East Room of the White Home, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Picture/Mark Schiefelbein)

When requested if any headway had been made, Senate Majority Chief John Thune , R-S.D., advised Fox Information Digital, "Sadly, not likely, no."

"The Dems are dug in on a place that is simply not working," he stated.

Negotiations have been ongoing amongst Republicans, Democrats and the White Home. Thune and Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y., met final evening to debate a suggestion from Democrats. The 2 haven't spoken straight since then, as a substitute speaking via intermediaries, Thune stated. Nevertheless, he anticipated they might discuss once more later Saturday.

Senate Republicans need to strike a deal that may see nominees that made it via committee with bipartisan help get lightning-fast votes on the ground, however Schumer has not relented.

SENATE GOP EYES RULES REVOLT AS DEMS STONEWALL TRUMP NOMINEES

Reporters encompass Senate Majority Chief John Thune (R-SD) as he strikes between his workplace and the Senate Chamber on the U.S. Capitol on Aug. 1, 2025 in Washington. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Photos)

A supply acquainted with negotiations stated Senate Democrats are on the lookout for offers on the discharge of funding withheld by the White Home and a assure that there can be no future rescissions packages — a selected sticking level for them heading into the looming deadline to fund the federal government. In alternate, they're providing a tranche of nominees to go forward now, and one other spherical later within the fall.

However Trump, who's at his Bedminster, N.J., golf course, has demanded that lawmakers keep on the town and go your entire slate of nominees on the Senate calendar, which has ballooned to over 150.

The president lauded Senate Republicans in a submit to Fact Social on Saturday "for preventing, over the Weekend and much past, if essential, with a view to get my nice Appointments authorised, and on their approach to serving to us MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"

"The Radical Left Democrat Senators are doing all the things doable to DELAY these fantastic and proficient folks from being authorised," he stated. "If George Washington or Abraham Lincoln had been up for approval, the Dems would delay, so long as doable, then vote them out."

GRIDLOCK CRUMBLES AS SENATE ADVANCES SPENDING BILLS IN RACE AGAINST SHUTDOWN

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., speaks with reporters within the U.S. Capitol through the vote-a-rama on President Trump's "massive lovely invoice" reconciliation bundle on June 30, 2025. (Invoice Clark/CQ-Roll Name, Inc by way of Getty Photos)

Whereas Republicans have confirmed nicely over 100 of the president’s nominees, the one choose to make it to the ground with out objection was Secretary of State Marco Rubio .

Not a single one in every of Trump’s nominees has gotten a voice vote or gone via unanimous consent, two ground actions which have been routinely used to advance nominees within the higher chamber all through the years. At this level 4 years in the past, 49 of former President Joe Biden’s picks had been confirmed by voice vote.

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., defined that Republicans have three choices that they've sufficient help among the many convention to maneuver ahead with: attain a cope with Democrats; adjourn the Senate and provides the president runway for recess appointments and eventually, a rules-change bundle, which some Republicans take into account the "nuclear possibility."

On recess appointments, a transfer floated since earlier than Trump took workplace, Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., contended it might be as much as Democrats whether or not Republicans really went via with it.

"The Democrats’ obstruction is resulting in, in very brief order, us taking the mandatory actions to offer the President energy to make recess appointments," he stated.

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Whereas it might be a sensitive transfer that may set off a firestorm amongst Democrats, Republicans aren’t afraid to maneuver forward with a guidelines change. When requested if a rule change needs to be carried out earlier than lawmakers depart city, Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., stated "I feel that’d be greatest."

However the desire is to strike a deal, ideally on a possible bundle on over 60 nominees that had been superior out of committee in a bipartisan trend.