Senators Leave for August Recess Without a Deal on Trump Nominees

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.