06.05.25

Historic Democrat Obstruction Not Stopping Senate Republicans From Confirming President Trump’s Team

As Democrats Keep Obstructing Consideration of President Trump’s Civilian Nominees, Senate Republicans Continue Getting the President’s Team in Place at a Faster Pace Than in 2021 and 2017

THIS WEEK, SENATE REPUBLICANS CONFIRMED SEVEN CIVILIAN NOMINEES FOR A TOTAL OF 75, A PACE FASTER THAN THE BIDEN AND FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATIONS

“[W]hen the American people elected President Trump and a Republican Congress last November, they expected us to deliver. We’ve worked hard to deliver on our mandate, and we are not taking our foot off the gas. There’s too much to do.” – Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.)

June5NomsChart

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  • After today’s votes, the Senate has confirmed 75 civilian nominees, outpacing both the Biden and first Trump administrations. (Senate Majority Leader: President Trump's Senate-Confirmed Civilian Nominees – accessed 6/5/25)
    • At this point in the Biden administration, the Senate had confirmed 59 civilian nominees. (Congress.gov: 117th Congress Nominees – accessed 6/5/25)
    • At this point in the first Trump administration, the Senate had confirmed 42 civilian nominees. (Congress.gov: 115th Congress Nominees – accessed 6/5/25)
  • This week, the Senate confirmed the following Trump administration nominees:
    • Michael Duffey, to be under secretary of defense for acquisition, 51-46. (PN17: Roll Call Vote #283 – 6/3/25)
    • Allison Hooker, to be under secretary of state, 59-36. (PN25-19: Roll Call Vote #285 – 6/3/25)
    • Dale Marks, to be assistant secretary of defense, 72-26. (PN22-16: Roll Call Vote #287 – 6/3/25)
    • Michelle Bowman, to be vice chairman for supervision of the board of governors of the Federal Reserve System, 48-46. (PN55-9: Roll Call Vote #291 – 6/4/25)
    • James O’Neill, to be deputy secretary of health and human services, 52-43. (PN12-33: Roll Call Vote #293 – 6/5/25)
    • John Andrew Eisenberg, to be an assistant attorney general, 52-43. (PN26-16: Roll Call Vote #295 – 6/5/25)

DEMOCRATS HAVE EXHIBITED HISTORIC OBSTRUCTION, BLOCKING FAST CONSIDERATION OF NEARLY ALL OF PRESIDENT TRUMP’S CIVILIAN NOMINEES

  • “So far, Democrats have not allowed a single unanimous consent or voice vote for civilian nominees, a procedural tactic to slow down the confirmation process.” (The Daily Signal: Thune Battles Schumer on Holding Up Trump Nominees – 6/3/25)
  • “The Senate GOP leadership’s aggressive pace comes as Senate Democrats have sought to place historic roadblocks in the confirmation process by requiring roll call votes for all of the president’s nominees.” (Daily Caller: Senate GOP Races Ahead With Trump Confirmations Despite Historic Roadblocks From Dems – 5/14/25)
  • Doubling down on his blanket holds on all Department of Justice nominees, this week Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) blocked Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley’s (R-Iowa) request to fast-track a nominee. (Roll Call: Schumer announces holds on Justice Department nominees – 5/14/25; Axios’ Stephen Neukam: post on X – 6/4/25)
  • Democrats have been holding up nearly every single one of President Trump’s civilian nominees since he took office: “Safe to assume pretty much every Trump nominee has a Dem hold on them at this point. Otherwise they’d be moving through the floor a lot more quickly and without cloture votes.” (Semafor’s Burgess Everett: post on X – 5/13/25)
  • “Confirming each U.S. Attorney by roll call will consume >230 hrs of Senate floor time& will keep us from working on other important matters for the American ppl There is longstanding precedent that U.S. Attorneys are confirmed by a voice vote/unanimous consent --w few exceptions” – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)

DEMOCRATS ARE FORCING AN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF CLOTURE VOTES ON NOMINEES, EVEN ON THOSE WHO WENT ON TO BE CONFIRMED BY A SUPERMAJORITY OF SENATORS

“Did u know Democrats hv delayed… Pres Trump's Senate confirmable nominees? An unprecedented amount of obstruction that gums up the gears of the govt Presidents need their staff in place to serve U— the American ppl” – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)

  • With the exception of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s nomination, every single one of President Trump’s civilian nominees has required a cloture vote, an unprecedented number in the last 24 years:
    • Through June 5 of President Biden’s first year as president in 2021, 36 of his 59 confirmed civilian nominees required a cloture vote. (U.S. Senate: Cloture Motions - 117th Congress – accessed 6/5/25; Congress.gov: 117th Congress Nominees – accessed 6/5/25)
    • Through June 5 of President Trump’s first year as president in 2017, 25 of his 42 confirmed civilian nominees required a cloture vote. (U.S. Senate: Cloture Motions - 115th Congress – accessed 6/5/25: Congress.gov: 115th Congress Nominees – accessed 6/5/25)
    • Through June 5 of President Obama’s first year as president in 2009, one of his 152 confirmed civilian nominees required a cloture vote. (U.S. Senate: Cloture Motions - 111th Congress – accessed 6/5/25; Congress.gov: 111th Congress Nominees – accessed 6/5/25)
    • Through June 5 of President Bush’s first year as president in 2001, zero of his 129 confirmed civilian nominees required a cloture vote. (U.S. Senate: Cloture Motions - 107th Congress – accessed 6/5/25; Congress.gov: 107th Congress Nominees – accessed 6/5/25)
  • Democrats even forced cloture votes on 19 non-controversial civilian nominees that went on to receive at least 60 votes upon final confirmation. (U.S. Senate: Cloture Motions - 119th Congress – accessed 6/5/25; Congress.gov: 119th Congress Nominees – accessed 6/5/25)
  • As a result, the Senate has taken 169 out of its 296 votes (57.1%) on nominations (including cloture votes and other dilatory motions). (U.S. Senate: Roll Call Votes 119th Congress - 1st Session (2025) – accessed 6/5/25)