{"id":2615734,"date":"2026-06-18T15:37:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T19:37:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/grassley-democratic-obstruction-fueling-dni-and-fisa-standoff\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T15:39:30","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T19:39:30","slug":"grassley-democratic-obstruction-fueling-dni-and-fisa-standoff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/grassley-democratic-obstruction-fueling-dni-and-fisa-standoff\/","title":{"rendered":"Grassley: Democratic obstruction fueling DNI and FISA standoff"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/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%2Fgrassley-democratic-obstruction-fueling-dni-and-fisa-standoff%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=2615734&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 judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley accused Senate Democrats of bad-faith obstruction, contributing to a standoff over President Trump&#8217;s judicial and intelligence nominees and efforts to renew surveillance authorities. Grassley highlighted the continued blockade of Trump\u2019s nominees, notably Jay Clayton for DNI, and criticized Democrats\u2019 handling of judicial vacancies in New York, particularly Chuck Schumer\u2019s refusal to return blue slips, which impede confirmations. This dispute has also impacted negotiations to renew Section 702 of the FISA, which recently lapsed, amid disagreements over intelligence leadership. Grassley emphasized the need for good-faith cooperation to preserve Senate norms and practices. Meanwhile, Trump\u2019s decision to pause Clayton&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >nomination reflects ongoing political contention<\/a>, with Democratic senators opposing certain appointments without the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/schumer-blocks-trumps-top-prosecutor-picks-for-new-york-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"... blocks ...s top prosecutor picks for New York - Washington Examiner\">traditional blue slip process<\/a>. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pelosis-husband-makes-big-tech-stock-moves-again-places-6-million-bet-as-congress-looks-to-rein-in-silicon-valley\/\" title=\"Pelosi\u2019s Husband Makes Big Tech Stock Moves Again, Places  Million Bet As Congress Looks To Rein In Silicon Valley\">committee moved forward<\/a> with several judicial nominations and bipartisan legislation to combat fake voice and likeness generation.  <\/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<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chuck-grassley\/\">Chuck Grassley<\/a> (R-IA) on Thursday accused Senate Democrats of engaging in \u201cbad-faith obstruction\u201d that he said is contributing to a growing standoff involving President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump\u2019s<\/a> nominee for director of national intelligence and efforts to renew key federal surveillance authorities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During a committee meeting Thursday morning, Grassley pointed to Senate Minority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chuck-schumer\/\">Chuck Schumer\u2019s<\/a> (D-NY) handling of judicial and U.S. attorney vacancies in New York as an example of what he described as an increasingly unsustainable use of the Senate\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3486453\/blue-slips-judicial-nominees-trump-grassley\/\">blue slip tradition<\/a>.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4613776\/gop-sen-roger-marshall-says-iran-have-to-be-able-to-defend-themselves\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Roger Marshall says Iran \u2018have to be able to defend themselves\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4613474\/trump-sends-senate-gop-reeling-john-thune-intel-chief-chaos\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump sends Senate GOP reeling with intelligence chief chaos<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4613281\/bill-cassidy-trump-deal-iran-worst-foreign-policy-blunder\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Cassidy calls Trump\u2019s deal with Iran \u2018worst foreign policy blunder in decades\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) walks from the Senate chamber at the Capitol in Washington, July 16, 2025. (Rod Lamkey, Jr.\/AP Photo, file)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis isn\u2019t sustainable. This isn\u2019t good faith,\u201d Grassley said, marking some of his strongest public expressions of skepticism yet over the tradition thanks to Democrats\u2019 continued blockade on key Trump nominees. \u201cDemocrats expect Republicans to adhere to precedent and norms while undermining them at every turn.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The blue slip tradition allows home-state senators to block or delay consideration of district court judges and U.S. attorney nominees. Trump has called on Republicans to end the practice to facilitate the confirmations of his judicial and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a> appointments.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The chairman\u2019s remarks come a day after Trump abruptly halted the confirmation process for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4606191\/jay-clayton-trump-pick-intelligence-chief\/\">Jay Clayton<\/a>, his nominee to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Clayton had been scheduled to appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday before Trump announced <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4612317\/senate-jay-clayton-confirmation-hearing-trump-cancel\/\">he would not move forward<\/a> with the nomination until <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4611566\/trump-jay-clayton-hearing-fisa-canceling\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">Jamie McDonald<\/a> is confirmed as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jay Clayton, then-chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, speaks during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing in Washington on Tuesday, June 27, 2017. (Andrew Harrer\/Bloomberg)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump argued that he does not want to remove Clayton from his current role as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-muscles-out-chicago-prosecutor-hot-on-the-heels-of-powerful-dems\/\" title=\"Biden Muscles Out Chicago Prosecutor Hot on the Heels of Powerful Dems\">top federal prosecutor<\/a> in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/manhattan\/\">Manhattan<\/a> until a permanent replacement is installed. However, McDonald\u2019s path to confirmation faces significant obstacles because New York\u2019s Democratic senators, Schumer and Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kirsten-gillibrand\/\">Kirsten Gillibrand<\/a> (D-NY), have not provided support through the Senate\u2019s blue slip process.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFor more than a year, Senator Schumer refused to return a blue slip or consider the highly qualified nominee that the President put forth,\u201d Grassley said. \u201cSenator Schumer has also refused to consider any nominee for other U.S. attorney and district court seats in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-york\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"61\">New York<\/a>. In fact, Senator Schumer refused to even meet with the Administration to find a path forward.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The dispute has also complicated negotiations over reauthorizing Section 702 of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fisa\/\">Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act<\/a>, a surveillance authority used by intelligence agencies to collect foreign intelligence information. The authority lapsed last week, and Senate negotiations have stalled amid disagreements over intelligence leadership.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some Democrats had viewed Clayton as a compromise nominee for DNI and were more open to discussing a FISA renewal if he replaced acting DNI <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bill-pulte\/\">Bill Pulte<\/a>. Trump\u2019s decision to pause Clayton\u2019s nomination has cast additional uncertainty over those talks.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOur Senate practices and norms will only survive if there\u2019s good faith on all sides,\u201d said Grassley, who has in recent months <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3908769\/gop-stands-firm-blue-slip-battle-trump-despite-prosecutor-setbacks\/\">bucked Trump\u2019s calls to ignore<\/a> the blue slip tradition. \u201cIf the blue slip practice is going to continue, Senate Democrats must stop bad-faith obstruction, and they must stop it now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4614530\/jd-vance-senate-force-save-america-act-showdown-fisa\/\">VANCE PUSHES SENATE TO FORCE SAVE AMERICA ACT SHOWDOWN OVER FISA: \u2018WHY DON\u2019T WE TRY?\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Grassley\u2019s comments came at the start of a Senate Judiciary Committee executive business meeting where lawmakers advanced six judicial nominees, DOJ inspector general nominee Don Berthiaume, and Sean Costello, Trump\u2019s nominee for U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Alabama.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The committee also took up the bipartisan NO FAKES Act, legislation aimed at combating unauthorized artificially generated replicas of a person\u2019s voice or likeness, which advanced unanimously out of committee Thursday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Grassley Blames Democrats for Obstructing Trump Nominations<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2615735,"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\/2026\/06\/AP26167671599192.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4402,4786,7232,5894,14429],"class_list":["post-2615734","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-congress","tag-intelligence","tag-partisanship","tag-politics","tag-surveillance"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26167671599192.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2615734","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\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2615734"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2615734\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2615738,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2615734\/revisions\/2615738"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2615735"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2615734"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2615734"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2615734"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}