New Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) reiterates his agreement with President-elect Donald Trump that all options must be on the table to place Cabinet nominees in their roles.
This means using break dates to fill vacant positions.
Recess appointments allow a president to bypass the Senate’s constitutional role in the confirmation process. The Senate plays an essential role in vetting presidential nominees to ensure they are qualified and reflect the public interest.
However, immediately after the up-to-date government, the resistance party should be placed on a virtual break due to its previous behavior. Thune appears to recognize this and says he will not let Democrats apply the typical confirmation process to obstruct the future president or the will of the people.
He shouldn’t do it either. If the last election had gone in the complete opposite direction, you can bet that Democrats would push through their Cabinet picks using every tactic imaginable – including recess appointments.
Fox News host Bret Baier asked Thune what the threshold might be for implementing such a measure.
“All options are on the table, including break dates,” he replied. “Hopefully it doesn’t come to that. But we’ll find out pretty quickly whether the Democrats want to play along or not.”
ELECTED LEADER THUNE: “All options are on the table, including the dates for the breaks. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that.” pic.twitter.com/labzFukMgQ
– Breaking911 (@Breaking911) November 14, 2024
The Democrats could be ready I want to weigh in on some picks, but there are a handful of Trump candidates who are unlikely to receive support. Some of the more controversial candidates (in their eyes) include Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Perhaps the most challenging position to fill will be the attorney general position, for which Trump tapped firebrand former congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL). This choice could face opposition on both sides of the aisle.
Those concerned about Trump’s Cabinet makeup will no doubt shudder at Thune’s comments. He seems unfazed.
“All of these people have a process they have to go through. All of these nominees are – it’s – you know, advice and approval. That is the Senate’s constitutional role in confirming nominations to the executive branch of government. And “We take this role seriously,” he said.
“But we also will not allow Democrats to hinder or block President Trump and the will of the American people.”
Or as Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) put it more eloquently when he boasted that recess appointments were coming into play: “He’s the Attorney General! Stop it!”
GOP Massie says ‘break dates’ when asked if GAETZ can be confirmed by Senate
“He’s the attorney general. Suck it up!” pic.twitter.com/zTTpQB9NAx
– haleytalbotcnn (@haleytalbotcnn) November 13, 2024
This is exactly the kind of fight we need now and in the future.
Have multiple presidents used break dates in the past. Bill Clinton used it 139 times. George W. Bush made 171 recess appointments, including judges whose nominations were blocked in the Senate. And Barack Obama made 32 recess appointments before a Supreme Court decision in 2014 significantly restricted the practice.
Neither Trump nor President Joe Biden used this practice in their favor.
Senator Thune, in a speech on the After being elected the next Senate Majority Leader, he laid out his agenda in the Senate. It seemed to indicate that the time for games is over. The He will do anything to implement Trump’s agenda.
“The American people delivered a decisive victory for President Trump and Senate Republicans. And now the real work begins: implementing our agenda,” he said.
While Thune did not mention specific nominations or the processes by which they would be implemented, he said, “Members should expect an aggressive timeline until these nominees are confirmed.”
I believe America’s best days lie ahead.
As Senate Majority Leader, I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate, as well as with President Trump and Vice President Vance, to build a robust and prosperous America and a vivid up-to-date beginning for the American people. pic.twitter.com/0Nx6Tlfi7g
– Senator John Thune (@SenJohnThune) November 14, 2024
President-elect Trump, knowing what kind of opposition he will face in his second term, is demanding that recess appointments become part of the plan. He made this desire clear while the contest for Senate majority leader was still ongoing.
“Every Republican senator seeking the coveted leadership position in the United States Senate must agree to recess appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to confirm people in a timely manner,” he said wrote on X.
“Sometimes the votes can take two years or longer. They did this four years ago and we cannot allow something like this to happen again. We need positions filled IMMEDIATELY!”
As with most matters, Thune’s comments about a willingness to put all options on the table are welcome. But when push comes to shove, will he have the courage to take such a bold step?
