Republican senators are gearing up to push through a significant batch of President Donald Trump's nominees, signaling a hard-fought victory over persistent opposition.
Republicans in the Senate are set to confirm 97 of Trump’s nominees in a bloc vote as early as next week, after overcoming an initial blockade by Democratic Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, the Daily Caller reported.
Thursday saw GOP leadership launch the procedural steps for 88 nominees, only to face Bennet’s challenge over Senate rules. When they refiled later that day, they bolstered the package with nine more picks, rounding out a robust slate of nearly 100.
Bennet’s objection centered on Sara Bailey, a nominee for director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, deemed ineligible for group confirmation due to her senior-level status. Democrats argued this violated Senate precedent, which excludes cabinet-level roles from bloc votes.
The blockade crumbled quickly, though Bennet crowed about his temporary stand, stating, “I will not allow unqualified nominees, this White House, or the President to undermine the rule of law and our national security.” His defiance rings hollow when stacked against the Senate’s pressing need to fill critical roles without endless partisan games.
Since September, when Republicans streamlined the process over fierce Democratic pushback, they’ve prioritized efficiency in confirmations. Bailey’s inclusion may have sparked debate, but it’s a minor hiccup in a broader effort to cut through bureaucratic gridlock.
The revised package features notable figures like former New York Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, tapped as inspector general for the Department of Labor. Alongside him, 13 U.S. attorney nominees and dozens of lower-level executive branch picks await their Senate nod.
As of Thursday evening, 314 civilian nominees have already been confirmed, per Senate Republican tallies. This latest bloc of 97 would propel the total past 410 in Trump’s first year of his second term, a staggering feat.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune didn’t mince words, noting, “That far outstrips total confirmations by this point in President Biden’s term, and in President Trump’s first term as well.” His point lands sharply: while Democrats drag their feet, Republicans are delivering results at a historic clip.
Thune also highlighted how Republicans have nearly wiped out the nominations backlog, a mess of over 150 pending picks before rule changes. Previous group votes in September and October confirmed 48 and 108 nominees, respectively, proving the strategy works.
Contrast that with Democratic tactics, which Thune called out as “Trump Derangement Syndrome” on the Senate floor. When progress is this tangible, such delays look less like principle and more like petty obstruction.
The numbers don’t lie, and neither does the urgency to staff an administration facing complex challenges. Endless stalling serves no one, least of all the American public waiting for functional governance.
This confirmation wave isn’t just about filling seats; it’s about ensuring the government reflects the priorities voters endorsed. Delays driven by partisan spite only deepen distrust in a system already strained by ideological divides.
While Democrats cling to procedural nitpicking, Republicans are focused on action, not theatrics. If Bennet and his allies truly cared about national security, they’d prioritize a fully staffed administration over fleeting symbolic wins.
The Senate’s push to confirm these 97 nominees stands as a rebuke to those who’d rather grind gears than govern. Americans deserve leaders who build, not block, and this vote moves us closer to that reality.
