Will Democrats Keep Torpedoing the Nominations Process?

Over Six Months Into President Trump’s Administration, Democrats Are Still Forcing Needless Delays and Causing Crucial Roles to Be Unfilled

THIS WEEK, SENATE REPUBLICANS WILL CONTINUE TO GRIND THROUGH DEMOCRATS’ HISTORIC OBSTRUCTION TO CONFIRM MORE CIVILIAN NOMINEES

“Thune has already teed up several nominees for votes this week, and more are coming.” (Punchbowl News: AM: 3 things to watch as August nears – 7/28/25)

“Advancing President Donald Trump’s nominations is straightforward but laborious, with Democrats showing little willingness to expedite the process.” (Roll Call: Trump to Senate: Confirm more nominees before August recess – 7/28/25)

Democrats have “been in an obstructive posture since Trump’s return to the White House, which is why not a single Trump nominee has been confirmed by unanimous consent.” (Punchbowl News: AM: 3 things to watch as August nears – 7/28/25)

In fact, President Trump is the only president on record to not have a single civilian nominee confirmed via voice vote or unanimous consent at this point in his presidency. (U.S. Congress: 119th Congress Nominees – accessed 7/28/25; The Daily Caller: EXCLUSIVE: Thune Says Trump Nominees Are Being Confirmed At Rapid Pace Despite ‘Historic’ Obstruction – 6/14/25)

- By the end of August 2021, over 50% of President Biden’s confirmed civilian nominees were confirmed via voice vote. (U.S. Congress: 117th Congress Nominees – accessed 7/28/25)

- By the end of August 2017, nearly 60% of President Trump’s confirmed civilian nominees were confirmed via voice vote. (U.S. Congress: 115th Congress Nominees – accessed 7/28/25)

Democrats have also forced the Senate to hold cloture votes on 108 of the 109 confirmed civilian nominees. (U.S. Senate: Cloture Motions - 119th Congress – accessed 7/28/25; PN345-20: Roll Call Vote #438 – 7/28/25; PN22-17: Roll Call Vote #440 – 7/28/25; Congress.gov: 119th Congress Nominees – accessed 7/28/25; PN22-17: Roll Call Vote #441 – 7/29/25)
This is true even for noncontroversial nominees: Democrats required time-consuming cloture votes on 22 civilian nominees who ended up receiving at least 60 and as many as 83 votes on final confirmation. (U.S. Senate: Cloture Motions - 119th Congress – accessed 7/28/25; Congress.gov: 119th Congress Nominees – accessed 7/28/25)

THIS HISTORIC LEVEL OF OBSTRUCTION IS A DEPARTURE FROM DECADES OF CONFIRMATION PROCESSES

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“Democrats’ roadblocks are the worst they’ve ever been, according to Thune. Senate GOP leadership has been forced to burn finite floor time to process each nominee individually since the opening days of the administration given Democrats’ sweeping blockade of Senate-confirmed positions.” (The Daily Caller: EXCLUSIVE: John Thune Says Dems’ Unprecedented ‘Obstruction’ Will Cost Them Next Time They’re In Power – 7/24/25)

Zero of President Trump’s civilian nominees have been confirmed via voice vote or unanimous consent. By contrast:
- 57% of the civilian nominees confirmed in President Biden’s term were via voice vote. (U.S. Congress: President Joe Biden Nominations 2021-2024 – accessed 7/28/25)

- 65% of the civilian nominees confirmed in President Trump’s first term were via voice vote. (U.S. Congress: President Donald Trump Nominations 2017-2020 – accessed 7/28/25)

- 90% of the civilian nominees confirmed in President Obama’s first term were via voice vote. (U.S. Congress: President Barack Obama Nominations 2009-2012 – accessed 7/28/25)

- 90% of the civilian nominees confirmed in President George W. Bush’s first term were via voice vote. (U.S. Congress: President George W. Bush Nominations 2001-2004 – accessed 7/28/25)

- Roughly 98% of the civilian nominees confirmed in President Clinton’s first term were via voice vote or unanimous consent. (U.S. Congress: President Bill Clinton Nominations 1993-1996 – accessed 7/28/25)

- Roughly 98% of the civilian nominees confirmed in President George H.W. Bush’s term were via voice vote or unanimous consent. (U.S. Congress: President George H.W. Bush Nominations 1989-1993 – accessed 7/28/25)

SENATE REPUBLICANS ARE WORKING OVERTIME TO OVERCOME THIS OBSTRUCTION BY CONFIRMING NOMINEES THE HARD WAY

As of midday Tuesday, July 29th, 109 of President Trump’s civilian nominees have been confirmed by roll call vote. By contrast, in the first term of their administrations:
- It took the Senate until October 28, 2021, to confirm 109 of President Biden’s civilian nominees via roll call vote. (U.S. Congress: President Joe Biden Nominations 2021-2024 – accessed 7/28/25)

- It took the Senate until March 5, 2018, to confirm 109 of President Trump’s civilian nominees via roll call vote. (U.S. Congress: President Donald Trump Nominations 2017-2020 – accessed 7/28/25)

- It took the Senate until January 23, 2012, to confirm 109 of President Obama’s civilian nominees via roll call vote. (U.S. Congress: President Barack Obama Nominations 2009-2012 – accessed 7/28/25)

- It took the Senate until July 8, 2003, to confirm 109 of President George W. Bush’s civilian nominees via roll call vote. (U.S. Congress: President George W. Bush Nominations 2001-2004 – accessed 7/28/25)

- The Senate only confirmed 27 civilian nominees by roll call vote during President Clinton’s first term. (U.S. Congress: President Bill Clinton Nominations 1993-1996 – accessed 7/28/25)

- The Senate only confirmed 29 civilian nominees by roll call vote during President George H.W. Bush’s term. (U.S. Congress: President George H.W. Bush Nominations 1989-1993 – accessed 7/28/25)

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