Senate Republicans Consider Shortening August Recess to Confirm Trump’s Nominees
Senate Republican leaders are debating whether to cancel or cut short their traditional August break at the request of former President Donald Trump. He has urged lawmakers to stay in Washington, D.C., to finish confirming his remaining nominees.
Over the past six months, the Senate has been working quickly to confirm Trump’s nominees, despite pushback from Senate Democrats. So far, 96 nominees have been approved, but another 136 nominations are still pending.
Typically, lawmakers take the whole month of August off, either to recharge after a long session or to connect with their constituents about their accomplishments.
Trump reached out to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, urging him to keep the Senate in session. In a recent post on his social media platform, Trump expressed hope that Thune would cancel the recess, saying, “We need them badly!!!”
Thune confirmed he had discussed the August recess with Trump but did not disclose if it would be canceled completely. A senior Republican aide noted that discussions about shortening the break were already underway before Trump’s request.
“We’re thinking about it,” Thune stated. “We want to get as many nominations through as possible, and it would be great if Democrats would act more in line with historical norms.”
The remaining nominations cover key positions throughout the federal government, including the Defense Department and various ambassadorships.
Thune characterized Senate Democrats’ actions as obstructionist, mentioning that not a single nominee has been approved through fast-track voting methods. Every nominee has necessitated a floor vote. Earlier this year, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer supported delaying nominations lacking unanimous approval, causing additional hurdles.
“We’re committed to this and will explore every option in the coming weeks to get these nominees across the finish line,” Thune added.
