The machinery of American government has been grinding to a halt, with empty offices across federal agencies costing taxpayers millions in lost productivity and delayed services. Ever wonder why it takes forever to get a passport renewed or why embassies sit without ambassadors? While politicians in Washington collect their paychecks, critical positions that keep our government functioning remain unfilled month after month. What most Americans don’t realize is that this dysfunction isn’t accidental – it’s a deliberate strategy that’s about to face its reckoning.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has unveiled a bold move to restore basic governance after months of unprecedented obstruction. The South Dakota Republican is deploying a rule change that will finally allow the confirmation of 48 Trump administration nominees next week, breaking through what has become the most planned blocking of presidential appointments in American history.
Breaking the Logjam
The package of confirmations includes numerous ambassadorships and lower-tier positions that traditionally sail through the Senate without controversy. Among them is Kimberly Guilfoyle, Trump’s nominee for ambassador to Greece, along with dozens of other non-controversial appointments that Democrats have been holding hostage for political leverage.
From ‘Just the News’:
The move comes as Republicans have grown frustrated with Democrats refusing to allow confirmation by voice vote or unanimous consent for non-controversial nominees. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has eyed a rule change to allow lower-tier nominees to be confirmed in batches, rather than individually.
What makes this obstruction particularly outrageous is its unprecedented nature. Let me put this in perspective. During their presidencies, George W. Bush and Barack Obama saw 90 percent of their civilian nominees confirmed by simple voice vote. Even Trump’s first term saw more than half confirmed this way. But eight months into Trump’s current term? Not a single civilian nominee has received that courtesy from Senate Democrats. Not one.
Unprecedented Obstruction
The numbers tell a story of deliberate sabotage. To clear the current backlog of nominees through regular order, the Senate would need to take more than 600 votes. That’s more than this record-breaking Senate has taken all year. Think about that – it’s an impossible math problem that Democrats are counting on to cripple the Trump administration’s ability to govern.
Democrats like Chuck Schumer claim they’re protecting the country from Trump’s nominees. He’s warning that Republicans will regret using this rule change. Really? These same Democrats had no problem quickly confirming Obama’s appointments or even Biden’s picks when they held power. The hypocrisy is stunning – they’re blocking routine ambassadorships and deputy positions that have nothing to do with major policy disputes.
This isn’t about protecting democracy. It’s about paralyzing a fairly elected president’s ability to staff his administration. When Senator Brian Schatz puts a blanket hold on all State Department nominees, he’s not standing on principle. When Senator Durbin blocks U.S. attorneys, same story. They’re using Senate rules as weapons against the American people’s choice.
The restoration of normal Senate function through Thune’s maneuver represents more than just a political victory. It’s a return to the basic understanding that presidents deserve to have their teams in place. Regardless of party, they need to execute the agenda voters elected them to pursue. These 48 confirmations will finally fill positions that have been vacant for months. Government agencies can start serving the American people as intended.
Key Takeaways
- Democrats blocked every single Trump civilian nominee from voice votes
- Republicans will confirm 48 nominees next week through rule change
- Past presidents got 90% of nominees through easily, Trump got zero
- Empty government positions cost taxpayers millions in lost services
Sources: Just The News, Roll Call
