{"id":2468455,"date":"2025-07-29T21:04:02","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T01:04:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-eyes-drastic-moves-to-end-nominee-stalemate-amid-democratic-delay\/"},"modified":"2025-07-29T21:08:48","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T01:08:48","slug":"gop-eyes-drastic-moves-to-end-nominee-stalemate-amid-democratic-delay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-eyes-drastic-moves-to-end-nominee-stalemate-amid-democratic-delay\/","title":{"rendered":"GOP eyes drastic moves to end nominee stalemate amid Democratic delay"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgop-eyes-drastic-moves-to-end-nominee-stalemate-amid-democratic-delay%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2468455&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Senate Republicans, frustrated by Democratic delays in confirming more than 130 of President Donald Trump&#8217;s nominees, are considering aggressive strategies to break the logjam. These include potential changes to Senate rules to reduce floor time for confirmations and even the possibility of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trumps-demand-for-recess-appointments-faces-headwinds-following-controversial-cabinet-picks-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"...\u2019s demand for ... faces headwinds following controversial Cabinet picks - Washington Examiner\">making recess appointments<\/a>. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has not ruled out canceling part or all of the August recess to keep the Senate in session. GOP leaders are also exploring bipartisan agreements with Democrats to move some nominees forward. While recess appointments, once seen as extreme, are gaining interest, their implementation faces procedural challenges, especially as the House is holding pro forma sessions. Republicans accuse Democrats of unprecedented obstruction by making each nomination go through the full process. While some hope for a bipartisan deal, the GOP is prepared to pursue all options-including staying in session, rule changes, or recess appointments-to ensure confirmations proceed before time runs out. Democrats are cautious,waiting for GOP proposals and emphasizing mutual concessions,noting that Republicans have resisted allowing Democratic appointees on independent commissions,breaking bipartisan traditions.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Senate Republicans weigh rule changes, recess appointments to break nominee logjam<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2184620\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republicans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Republican\">Republican<\/a> senators, frustrated by what they see as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democrats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Democrati\">Democratic<\/a> delays, are exploring aggressive options to accelerate the confirmation of President<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Donald Trump\"> Donald Trump<\/a>&rsquo;s nominees, including potential rule changes and even recess appointments, according to people familiar with a closed-door meeting Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>Senate Majority Leader <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-thune\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"John Thune\">John Thune <\/a>(R-SD)<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-thune\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"John Thune (R-SD) \"> <\/a>isn&rsquo;t ruling out scrapping part or all of the August recess as Democrats continue to slow-walk confirmations, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-tommy-tuberville-wont-back-down-on-stalling-250-military-nominees-in-the-senate\/\" title=\"Tommy Tuberville stands firm, refusing to expedite 250 military ... in the ....\">consuming valuable floor time<\/a>. More than 130 of President Donald Trump&rsquo;s nominees remain in limbo, and the White House is pushing hard for movement this week.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3485805\/trump-grassley-blue-slip-confirmation-appointees\/\">Trump calls on Grassley to buck &#8216;blue slip&#8217; and expedite confirmation of his appointees<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3485299\/tide-shifts-israel-images-starving-children-gaza\/\">Tide shifts against Israel over images of starving children in Gaza<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3485755\/booker-democrats-complicit-trump-spat-police-bills\/\">Booker blasts Democrats as &#8216;complicit&#8217; with Trump in heated spat over police bills<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>A GOP leadership aide said discussions about potential rule changes are underway but remain in the early stages. Among the floated ideas are reducing the number of positions requiring Senate confirmation and shortening the floor time needed to process nominees. Separately, a source familiar with the talks said Republican leaders are also exploring a bipartisan package of nominees in conversations with their Democratic counterparts.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is unprecedented obstruction by the Democrats. We need to do something to get the president&rsquo;s people in place,&rdquo; said Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), the No. 2 Senate Republican.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/you-know-youre-testifying-under-oath-here-cruz-corners-biden-doj-nominee-on-defunding-the-police\/\" title=\"\u2018You Know You\u2019re Testifying Under Oath Here\u2019: Cruz Corners Biden DOJ Nominee On Defunding The Police\">spent considerable time<\/a> during their party lunch weighing the possibility of recess appointments. This option was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3230811\/trumps-demand-recess-appointments-faces-headwinds-cont\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">once seen as extreme<\/a> but is now drawing increasing interest within the conference, according to several sources familiar.<\/p>\n<p>Thune told reporters whether that option was discussed: &ldquo;Well, I wouldn&rsquo;t take any option off the table. Obviously, it&rsquo;s one of many suggestions that have been made.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) confirmed that recess appointments and rule changes were discussed. However, he believes the GOP is leaning toward recessing to allow Trump to act unilaterally.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve reached the point of stalemate, and Chuck [Schumer] refuses to relent and negotiate on the nominations,&rdquo; Kennedy said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re spending hours and hours and hours to confirm the General Counsel of the Department of Defense, and then it flies through with virtually no opposition.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>He acknowledged time is running short, citing competing legislative priorities like appropriations and the NDAA. He suggested that initiating a recess, despite procedural complications, may be the most practical path forward. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to get started on a recess, and then the president can appoint whomever he wants.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>While some Republicans openly discuss recess appointments, the chances of them happening remain slim. One key obstacle lies beyond the Senate&rsquo;s control; both chambers must formally adjourn to enable such appointments, but the House has already left town and is holding pro forma sessions instead.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) echoed the growing frustration within the GOP, calling Democrats&rsquo; tactics unprecedented. &ldquo;Democrats, for the first time ever, are making every single nomination go through the full process, that&rsquo;s never been done before,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re spending record amounts of time here, and we&rsquo;re still not getting folks confirmed.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Hoeven said the best outcome would be a bipartisan agreement to move nominees forward, but warned that if Democrats refuse to cooperate, Republicans are prepared to stay in session through August, pursue rule changes, or enable recess appointments. &ldquo;All options are on the table,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;One way or another, we&rsquo;ve got to get this done.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Changing the rules wouldn&rsquo;t be without precedent. In 2019, Senate Republicans, led by then-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, pushed through a rules change that <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >slashed post-cloture debate time<\/a> on most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-justice-department-nominee-faces-ethics-minefield-from-fathers-corporate-interests\/\" title=\"Biden Justice Department Nominee Faces Ethics Minefield From Father\u2019s Corporate Interests\">executive branch nominees<\/a> from 30 hours to just two. Frustrated by Democratic delays, McConnell argued the move was necessary to overcome obstruction and expedite confirmations, a strategy Republicans are now again considering as they face a mounting backlog.<\/p>\n<p>Though only a simple majority is required to change cloture rules, the process still takes time. Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) questioned the need for even two hours of debate per nominee. &ldquo;Why are we waiting two hours? &hellip; Why not 10 minutes?&rdquo; he asked.<\/p>\n<p>As tensions rise, some Republicans believe a deal may still be within reach, and preferable to more drastic steps.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I think we get a deal done,&rdquo; said Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), speaking to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;Because if we don&rsquo;t, the discussion around here about going out on recess and doing recess appointments is a real discussion. And if that happens, I can&rsquo;t imagine that&rsquo;s something the Democrats would want.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Democrats, meanwhile, are holding off on any decisions as they await a GOP offer. A person familiar with internal Democratic discussions described the Republican threats as part of a political pressure campaign. &ldquo;The big question is what would Democrats receive in return for expediting the nominees,&rdquo; the person said, noting that lawmakers on both sides are eager to return home for the August recess.<\/p>\n<p>Some Democrats have indicated they&rsquo;re open to confirming certain Trump nominees, depending on who&rsquo;s included. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) said a key sticking point is Republicans&rsquo; refusal to allow Democratic appointees to serve on independent commissions, a sharp break from the long-standing bipartisan tradition.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Maybe we didn&rsquo;t obviously support all their appointees, but we&rsquo;ve always had Democratic and Republican appointees on the FEC, on the CFTC, on the Safety Commission for product safety,&rdquo; she said, speaking to reporters on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/senate-2\/3480506\/senate-august-plans-limbo-gop-eyes-stalled-nominees\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"SENATE&rsquo;S AUGUST PLANS IN LIMBO AS GOP EYES STALLED NOMINEE BREAKTHROUGH\"><strong>SENATE&rsquo;S AUGUST PLANS IN LIMBO AS GOP EYES STALLED NOMINEE BREAKTHROUGH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Klobuchar said Democrats are focused on processing nominations, including some bipartisan picks that have received support from most of the caucus. While she didn&rsquo;t rule out the possibility of a deal for quick approval on certain nominees, she noted that some problematic nominations are still expected.<\/p>\n<p><em>Ramsey Touchberry contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2184620\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2184620\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>GOP eyes rule changes, recess appointments to speed confirmations<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2468456,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AP25203795871937.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[60228,34059,6203,60227,32504],"class_list":["post-2468455","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-democratic-delay","tag-election-2024","tag-gop","tag-nominee-stalemate","tag-political-strategy"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/AP25203795871937.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2468455","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2468455"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2468455\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2468459,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2468455\/revisions\/2468459"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2468456"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2468455"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2468455"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2468455"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}