GOP senators warned they must “step up” to approve Trump’s Cabinet picks or face recess

A Republican senator warned that his colleagues must “step up” to appoint nominees to Donald Trump’s Cabinet or face a recess.

Tennessee’s Bill Hagerty was on ABC. this week that the idea of ​​recess appointments “is and should be on the table,” adding that previous presidents in modern history, including Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, have used a constitutional provision allowing appointments when the Senate is not in session.

The process is likely to lead to legal battles and worsen Trump’s relationship with GOP leaders – all while allowing him to confirm a controversial choice despite concerns.

“This is a constitutionally available tool,” Hagerty told John Carl. “We want to see Democrats working with us. But if the resistance movement becomes as heavy as it has been… I have gone through the confirmation process myself. I submitted the documents on January 21, confirmation was received only in July.”

But when Karl pointed out that the problem was the Republican vote and asked whether the president-elect would use recess appointments to push into important positions, Hagerty reiterated his point by turning to other GOP senators.

“He (Trump) wants these appointments made as quickly as possible,” Hagerty responded. “I think everything should be on the table. I think if my colleagues understand that they will understand that they need to step up and act quickly to confirm these Cabinet members.”

The concept of a break appointment is controversial and has limitations: appointments are temporary and only last until the end of the relevant calendar year. They would also demand that the Senate remain out of session, something that members of the upper house of Congress might resist. The Senate has never adjourned simply to allow the President to make such appointments.

But that still leaves open the possibility that Trump could call a pause on Cabinet appointments during one of the Senate’s planned recesses, including the August recess later in 2025. And the president-elect himself has made it clear that he plans to use this tactic.

“Any Republican Senator vying for the coveted position of LEADERSHIP in the US Senate must agree to a recess in appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to confirm people in a timely manner,” he wrote on Truth Social.

Republican Sen. John Thune has been chosen as the new GOP leader when the Senate convenes in January. An ally of Mitch McConnell, Thune is an institutionalist and unlikely to use the power of the Senate to cater to Trump’s whims. However, on policy issues and most votes, he is expected to toe the White House line.

Next year the Senate will have a strong GOP majority; But the president’s control is not absolute, and he has already seen his nomination for attorney general go down in flames.

The House won’t vote on his pick until next year, but opposition from nearly a half-dozen Republicans killed Matt Gaetz’s bid to lead the Justice Department. None of Trump’s other nominees have yet withdrawn their nominations, although a number of Republican senators are publicly skeptical of Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination as director of national intelligence (DNI).

Pete Hegseth, Trump’s pick to lead the Defense Department, has also come under scrutiny as new revelations emerge related to a sexual assault case in which he was involved. Hegseth denies the encounter described in the charges was nonconsensual.

On the right, Trump is also facing criticism from traditional conservatives over his nomination for Labor Secretary Laurie Chavez-DeRemerme, who supported the Pro Act, part of the pro-union legislation that failed to pass Congress under Joe Biden’s presidency. .