Top Senate Republicans are vowing to stay in session until all of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees are confirmed — a pledge that could keep senators in Washington for weeks due to Democratic delay tactics. The GOP’s vow to grind through Trump’s cabinet picks in the face of Democratic slow-walking comes after the president floated the idea of using recess appointments as a fallback option during a Tuesday meeting with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana), reviving an idea that has caused some heartburn with some Senate Republicans. By keeping the Senate in session, GOP leaders would in effect block Trump from making recess appointments, which are temporary and expire at the end of each yearly congressional session.
The Senate just confirmed John Ratcliffe to lead the Central Intelligence Agency in overwhelming bipartisan fashion, making him the second member of President Trump’s national security team to be approved by the upper chamber. Senators confirmed Ratcliffe in a 74-25 vote. Twenty-one members who caucus with Democrats voted with every present Republican. Senator John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) did not vote. The Senate is also expected to take up the nomination of Peter Hegseth, of Tennessee, to be Secretary of Defense. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced Thursday afternoon she will vote against Hegseth citing his past infidelity and allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking. The Senate is set to vote on cloture for Hegseth’s nomination Thursday afternoon, setting up a likely final vote on Friday. He advanced out of the Senate Armed Services Committee on a party-line vote.
The House met at 12:00 P.M. for legislative business and will hold its last votes of the week on legislation considered pursuant to a Rule: H.R. 471 – Fix Our Forests Act and H.R. 21 – Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.
The House is also expected to consider one postponed Suspension, H.R. 375 – Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act.
