Thanks to This Week’s Confirmation of the Fifth Batch of En-Bloc Civilian Nominations, the Senate Has Confirmed 95% of All Nominations That Have Been Available for Floor Consideration This Congress
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS MORE NOMINATIONS CONFIRMED NOW THAN AT THIS POINT IN HIS FIRST TERM AND THE HIGHEST CONFIRMATION RATE OF COMMITTEE-PASSED NOMINATIONS IN A QUARTER CENTURY
- Yesterday, the Senate confirmed its fifth en bloc batch of civilian nominations, adding 74 members to President Trump’s team. (Senate Cloakroom: post on X – 8/7/26)
- After yesterday’s en bloc confirmation and this morning’s confirmation of Todd Blanche to be attorney general, the Senate has confirmed 591 of President Trump’s civilian nominations, outpacing the rate of his first term:
- The 119th Senate’s diligence in confirming President Trump’s team has led to the highest confirmations rate for nominations advanced out of committee in 25 years:
- That means the number of nominations available for floor consideration in the second year of an incoming administration is lower than it has been in at least 25 years:
SENATE REPUBLICANS HAVE NOT LET HISTORIC DEMOCRAT OBSTRUCTION GET IN THE WAY OF CONFIRMING WELL QUALIFIED NOMINEES
- The Republican rules reform that allows for en bloc confirmations was only necessary because of Democrats’ historic obstruction: Until last month, President Trump was the only president on record not to have a single civilian nomination confirmed by voice vote or unanimous consent. (U.S. Congress: 119th Congress Nominations – accessed 8/8/26; The Daily Caller: EXCLUSIVE: Thune Says Trump Nominees Are Being Confirmed At Rapid Pace Despite ‘Historic’ Obstruction – 6/14/25)
- On July 16, five civilian nominations were confirmed by voice vote, the first time that Democrats allowed any voice-vote confirmations during President Trump’s second term. (Senate Majority Leader: President Trump’s Senate-Confirmed Civilian Nominations – accessed 8/8/26)
- Senate Republicans have been overcoming Democrats’ historic nominations obstruction since day one of President Trump’s term:
- Senate Republicans kicked off 2025 by confirming President Trump’s Cabinet at the fastest rate in over 20 years, faster than the previous three administrations. (Senate Majority Leader: The Senate Just Confirmed a Batch of 97 Nominations, Capping Off a Historic Year – 12/18/25)
- Senate Democrats have been delaying and obstructing President Trump’s nominations from the very beginning of his term, including waging “trench warfare” on critical national security nominations. (Punchbowl News’ Andrew Desiderio: post on X – 1/21/25; Politico: The Senate readies for a nominee siege – 1/21/25; Punchbowl News: Thune threatens weekend votes as Dems stall Trump Cabinet picks – 1/22/25)
- Democrats’ obstruction has not faded with time: Just last week, they delayed and opposed the nomination of Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton, despite Clayton being highly qualified and widely praised. (Punchbowl News: AM: House Republicans’ final-week gauntlet – 7/20/26; Sen. Warner: Senate Intel Vice Chair Warner Statement on Jay Clayton – 6/11/26)
- Undaunted, Senate Republicans restored the historical practice of confirming large batches of lower-level, uncontroversial nominations, getting President Trump’s nominations across the finish line:
