U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, addressed the Senate Floor on what he described as a crisis in the confirmation of presidential nominees. Barrasso criticized Senate Democrats for opposing a proposal to confirm sub-cabinet nominees in groups, a process they had previously supported when President Biden was in office.
Barrasso stated, “To my Senate Democrat colleagues who participated in this blockade, let me say this… You demanded change at a time when 62 percent of Biden’s nominees were confirmed by voice vote. Yet you now reject the very changes you once championed now that a different president is getting zero nominees confirmed by voice vote or unanimous consent.”
He accused Democrats of consistently blocking nominations since President Trump took office, regardless of the qualifications of the nominees. “Since President Trump took office, Democrats have weaponized the rules of the Senate. Regardless of qualifications, every nominee got the same treatment: total warfare. From ambassadors to deputy assistant secretaries, Democrats have filibustered each and every one of them. Senate Democrats would filibuster the White House janitors if they could,” Barrasso said.
According to Barrasso, no Trump nominee has been confirmed by voice vote or unanimous consent—an unprecedented situation compared to previous administrations. He referenced an attempt by Senator Cornyn to bring up a proposal originally introduced by Senators Klobuchar and King in 2023, which aimed to allow group confirmations for certain positions due to concerns over delays with Biden’s nominees.
“On the day Klobuchar-King was introduced in 2023, 62 percent of Joe Biden’s nominees were already confirmed by voice vote… Let’s fast-forward to today. Zero percent of President Trump’s nominees have been confirmed by voice vote,” Barrasso noted.
Barrasso argued that while Democrats once claimed grouping together nominees was important for national security and economic success, they recently opposed their own proposal when Republicans suggested it. He said, “Senator Klobuchar said in 2023 grouping together nominees was vital for our ‘national security, economic success, and more.’ She was right. Yet yesterday, Democrats opposed their own proposal.”
He outlined that Republicans are seeking to restore what he called long-standing Senate practices regarding confirmation votes for sub-cabinet positions such as deputy secretaries and ambassadors but not judges or cabinet secretaries. “Our resolution formalizes what both parties have always done – until now… The Republican plan doesn’t include judges… Our proposal deals with sub-cabinet nominees – and sub-cabinet nominees only.”
Barrasso assured that scrutiny over each nominee would remain unchanged through committee hearings and background checks: “Every committee hearing and markup will still happen… Every nominee will still answer questions from Senators… In other words, scrutiny will continue.”
He concluded his remarks with criticism toward Democratic leadership: “The Floor is for final action – not endless obstruction… The hypocrisy is undeniable.” Barrasso emphasized that Republicans are aiming to restore tradition and end what he called the “Schumer Confirmation Shutdown” so that the Senate can resume its work.
