President-elect Donald Trump demanded Republican senators hoping to become the chamber’s leader approve any of his nominations with haste and allow him to make “recess appointments” to advance his vision for the nation.
“Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner,” he wrote on Truth Social. “Sometimes the votes can take two years, or more. This is what they did four years ago, and we cannot let it happen again. We need positions filled IMMEDIATELY!”
He went on to demand that lawmakers in the Senate — currently controlled by Democrats — not confirm any judicial nominees for the remainder of the current session.
“Additionally, no Judges should be approved during this period of time because the Democrats are looking to ram through their Judges as the Republicans fight over Leadership,” he said, ignoring that Republicans did similarly in the waning weeks of his first term. “THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THANK YOU!”
Senate Democrats have reportedly been planning a push to see President Joe Biden fill as many judicial vacancies as possible in the lame-duck session. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Friday the chamber planned to “get as many done as we can.”
Several senators hoping to take over Schumer’s role as majority leader quickly expressed their support for Trump’s proposal. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said he was in 100% agreement with the president-elect, saying he would do “whatever it takes to get your nominations through as quickly as possible.”
South Dakota Sen. John Thune (R) agreed.
“One thing is clear: We must act quickly and decisively to get the president’s cabinet and other nominees in place as soon as possible to start delivering on the mandate we’ve been sent to execute, and all options are on the table to make that happen, including recess appointments,” Thune wrote on X.
Presidents have constitutional authority to make so-called recess appointments, which are meant to be short-term postings that run through the end of the “next session” of the Senate unless lawmakers formally confirm a nominee. But doing so has traditionally not been an option as the Senate has taken steps to prevent presidents from sidestepping the normal confirmation process.
Democracy In The Balance
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The Supreme Court also ruled unanimously in 2014 that then-President Barack Obama had exceeded his authority when he made some recess appointments.
Democrats, even in the minority, are also almost certain to employ delay tactics to try and gum up Trump’s pledge to enact his agenda at a lightning pace.