Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Friday he would keep the chamber in session through the weekend to push through some of President Donald Trump’s outstanding nominees, as Senate Democrats continue to stall the confirmation process.
The Senate had been scheduled to begin its traditional August recess on Saturday, but that plan was thrown into uncertainty as Democrats demanded roll call votes on even the most routine nominees. Trump had urged senators to delay their break, warning on Thursday that his nominees should not be “forced to wait” any longer, Just The News reported.
On Saturday, the Senate confirmed one of the more high-profile nominees on the calendar — Jeanine Pirro, Trump’s pick to serve as Washington D.C.’s top prosecutor. The onetime New York judge, prosecutor, and Fox News host was one of more than 150 pending confirmations.
Pirro’s approval came just hours before the Senate left town, as negotiations to move a broader slate of nominees fell apart.
Lawmakers confirmed only seven of Trump’s picks before heading home for the remainder of August. A deal that would have allowed dozens more confirmations collapsed late Saturday after talks between Senate Republicans, the White House, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer broke down.
Sources told CNN that Schumer had demanded the release of as much as $1 billion in federal funds and a commitment from the Trump administration not to pursue new legislation that would cut federal spending. Trump rejected those terms in a fiery Truth Social post.
“Tell Schumer, who is under tremendous political pressure from within his own party, the Radical Left Lunatics, to GO TO HELL!” Trump wrote. “Do not accept the offer, go home and explain to your constituents what bad people the Democrats are, and what a great job the Republicans are doing, and have done, for our Country. Have a great RECESS.”
Trump had made clear he wanted his nominees confirmed even if it meant canceling the recess entirely. But his refusal to concede to Democrats’ demands signaled that a broader deal was off the table.
Thune had earlier told reporters that the chamber would remain open “at least through the weekend” to try to break the logjam and allow for more votes.
“That will be up to the discussions between White House and Schumer and the Democrats,” Thune said. “That’s how this is going to get resolved. We’ll see where that leads.”
Even with Republicans working to advance several low-level appointments Friday and Saturday, the vast majority of nominations remain unresolved — including numerous judicial nominees and key federal appointments like acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba.
Senate Republican Whip John Barrasso blamed Democrats for the ongoing blockade.
“President Trump is the only president in modern history not to have a single nominee confirmed by voice vote or unanimous consent,” Barrasso said. “Not a single one. Even the most routine nominees are being filibustered.”
“Positions that used to fly through by voice vote or unanimous consent are now treated and taken as political hostages,” he added. “This isn’t normal. This is petty partisan politics at its worst.”