Senators Leave for August Recess Without a Deal on Trump Nominees
Senators Leave for August Recess Without a Deal on Trump Nominees
The News
Senate leaders failed to reach a bipartisan deal to speed through more of President Trump's nominees — so senators are heading home with a GOP promise of changing the rules when they return in September.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) refused to back down from his demands, and Trump ultimately gave Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) cover to let his fatigued conference go home and reset.
Senators will stay voting Saturday evening on a small list of nominees already primed for final confirmation.
They will then head home for a month of fundraisers, town-halls and campaigning as they try to put some positive spin on the "big, beautiful bill."
Republicans have been gunning to use their majority to make changes to Senate rules in response to Democrats' unprecedented stonewalling of the confirmation process for civilian nominees.
Trump repeatedly called for Thune to keep senators working through the whole August recess. But an enraged post on Truth Social seemed to give senators permission to head home for the scheduled break.
Reactions
"Tell Schumer, who is under tremendous political pressure from within his own party, the Radical Left Lunatics, to GO TO HELL! Do not accept the offer, go home and explain to your constituents what bad people the Democrats are," Trump posted.
"Have a great RECESS and, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!"
Schumer and his leadership team tried to use the recess as leverage. They've demanded Republicans commit to concrete concessions, such as unfreezing some federal funding, in exchange for helping clear a logjam of nominees.
Top Senate Democrats this week railed against the possibility that the GOP would change the Senate rules to confirm more Trump nominees, referring to it as a "nuclear" option.
"Republicans should keep in mind that if they choose to go nuclear — yet again — it will have consequences long beyond Donald Trump's presidency," Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the Senate's Rules panel, said in a statement this week.
More
It's unclear what exact changes Senate Republicans will pursue.
It could look like eliminating one of the procedural votes on certain nominees, shrinking the length of debate time, allowing nominations to be voted on en-bloc or shortening the list of positions that require Senate confirmation.
The option of recess appointments has arisen on numerous occasions, including Saturday, as another path forward.
Both parties have been frustrated by the slow-moving confirmation process, and both could ultimately benefit from rules changes.
UMass Dartmouth Running Back, 18, Stabbed to Death
Trump Vows 'AI Force,' Czar; Polls Name Change
Sep 20, 2026
Iran Sends Trump Three Conditions to End War
Sep 19, 2026
Faulty AI Intel Nearly Started War With China
Sep 19, 2026
German General Breuer Elected NATO's Top Officer
Sep 19, 2026
Nobel Laureate: War, Sanctions Crushing Iranians
Sep 19, 2026
Dutch Police Disperse Violent Far-Right Hague Protest
Sep 19, 2026
GOP Midterm Odds Fade With 45 Days Left
Sep 19, 2026
Maher Rejects Tarlov's Claim Democrats Are Less Crazy
Sep 19, 2026
Patrick Clancy Breaks Silence After Ex-Wife Killed Kids
Sep 19, 2026
Trump Cuts Park Staff, Diverts Fees to DC
Sep 19, 2026
Holocaust Heirs Sue LA Museums Over Looted Art
Sep 19, 2026
Trump's Fed Chair Hikes Rates, Defying White House
Sep 19, 2026
Miller Drives Push to Deport Illegal Immigrant Children
Sep 19, 2026
US Lifts Sanctions on Eritrea's Military, Ruling Party
Sep 19, 2026
Air Force Admits US Has Space Weapons
Sep 19, 2026
Turkey Revokes License of Iran's Mellat Bank
Sep 19, 2026
Billionaire Ratcliffe Blasts Britain Over Immigration, Taxes
Sep 19, 2026
Navajo Nation Flash Flood Kills Three
Sep 19, 2026
Explosions Over Riyadh Trigger Saudi Air Alerts
Sep 19, 2026
Sep 19, 2026