Senate expedites confirmation of 48 Trump appointees by altering the chamber's regulations
Senate Confirms 48 of Trump's Nominees Under New Rules
In a significant move, the Senate has confirmed 48 of President Donald Trump's nominees, marking the first time under new rules to clear a backlog of executive branch positions. The vote, which took place on Thursday, September 3, was 51-47, with the Republicans holding the majority.
The new rules, introduced by Senate Republicans, allow for multiple nominees to be confirmed with a simple majority vote. This change does not apply to judicial nominations or high-level Cabinet posts.
Among the confirmed nominees are Jonathan Morrison, who will take on the role of the new administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and Kimberly Guilfoyle, who has been appointed as the U.S. ambassador to Greece. Guilfoyle, a former California prosecutor and television news personality, was once engaged to Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., and led the fundraising for Trump's 2020 campaign.
The decision to move to easier confirmation processes for lower-level, non-judicial nominations was made by Senate Republicans in early August, following a breakdown in bipartisan negotiations and Trump's social media comment telling Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer to "GO TO HELL!". This is the first time in recent history that the minority party hasn't allowed at least some quick confirmations.
Democrats have blocked more nominees than ever before, as their voters push them to fight Republicans at every turn. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer stated that Democrats are delaying nominations because they are "historically bad." In response, Schumer warned Republicans that they will "come to regret" their action, echoing a similar warning from GOP Leader Mitch McConnell to then-Majority Leader Harry Reid in 2013.
Republicans are planning to confirm a second tranche of nominees in the coming weeks, aiming to fill President Trump's administration at a pace similar to his predecessors. Senator John Thune stated that more nominations will be confirmed.
This confirmation vote was the first under the new rules and represents a significant shift in the Senate's confirmation process for executive branch nominees. The new rules are expected to expedite the process for future nominations, allowing for a more efficient filling of key positions in the Trump administration.
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