U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, addressed the Senate regarding what he described as an unprecedented level of obstruction by Senate Democrats against President Donald J. Trump’s nominees. Barrasso cited data showing that all 109 sub-cabinet nominees confirmed so far had been filibustered by Democrats, with only seven receiving more than ten minutes of debate on the Senate Floor.
“For nine long months, the Senate Democrats have waged an unprecedented effort to slow down the Senate and delay the President from getting his team on the field. It has been an unprecedented blockade. President Trump was elected to get America back on track. And that means getting the team on the job,” Barrasso said.
He criticized Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats for not engaging in substantive debate about individual nominees: “So what does Chuck Schumer, who spoke here on the Senate Floor a moment ago, have to say? He put out a press release in August, and he said that ‘historically bad nominees deserve a historic level of scrutiny.’ He has treated every nominee from President Trump as controversial, and he’s treated every nominee as an existential threat to our nation. If Senator Schumer and Senate Democrats have specific concerns with specific nominees, they should come down to the Senate Floor and discuss them and share their concerns with the American people. That’s not what’s happened.”
Barrasso provided further details: “Here are the facts. Senate Republicans have now confirmed 109 sub-cabinet nominees… Every single one of those 109 sub-cabinet nominees has been filibustered by the Democrats. Yet only seven of them received more than 10 minutes of debate on the Senate Floor… In fact, of the Democrats who filibustered all 109 sub-cabinet nominees, the average Democrat debate was two minutes. 81 nominees had zero Democrat debate… In other words, the Senate Democrats declined to come to the Floor to discuss 75 percent of these sub-cabinet nominees that ultimately were all confirmed by the United States Senate.”
He noted that despite extensive floor time being used for procedural delays—218 hours according to Barrasso—Democrats spent little time discussing qualifications or issues related to individual candidates.
Barrasso argued this approach prevents progress on legislation such as defense authorization or appropriations bills and leaves critical government positions unfilled: “This latest Schumer shutdown of this confirmation process, it really does leave critical jobs unfilled. It does weaken our economy. It does undermine our international diplomacy. And it jeopardizes our safety.”
He contrasted current practices with previous administrations: “You know, 98% of George H.W. Bush’s and Bill Clinton’s nominees, they were confirmed by voice vote or unanimous consent… During President Trump’s second term, the number that went by voice vote or unanimous consent – here we are nine months in – zero.”
Barrasso called for changes if current trends continue: “The Senate and the nation cannot continue to be run this way and controlled this way and function this way. If Democrats won’t stop abusing the rules of the Senate, Republicans are prepared to change the rules.”
He concluded: “I would say enough with the Democrat obstruction, enough with this phony scrutiny, and enough with another Schumer shutdown. The American people elected President Trump and they elected Republicans to get America back on track. And that is what we continue and will continue to do.”
