U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, addressed the Senate regarding the ongoing dispute over the confirmation process for sub-cabinet nominees. He criticized Senate Democrats for blocking group confirmations of nominees, a practice they had previously supported.
Barrasso stated, “To my Senate Democrat colleagues who participated in this blockade, let me say this… You demanded change at a time when 62 percent of Biden’s nominees were confirmed by voice vote. Yet you now reject the very changes you once championed now that a different president is getting zero nominees confirmed by voice vote or unanimous consent.”
During his remarks, Barrasso argued that since President Trump took office, Democrats have consistently used procedural tactics to delay or prevent confirmations regardless of nominee qualifications. He said, “Since President Trump took office, Democrats have weaponized the rules of the Senate. Regardless of qualifications, every nominee got the same treatment: total warfare. From ambassadors to deputy assistant secretaries, Democrats have filibustered each and every one of them. Senate Democrats would filibuster the White House janitors if they could.”
He pointed out that none of President Trump’s nominees have been confirmed by voice vote or unanimous consent—a departure from previous administrations’ practices.
Barrasso also referenced an earlier proposal from Senators Klobuchar and King in 2023 which aimed to allow group confirmations for certain positions due to what was then considered slow progress on confirming President Biden’s nominees. At that time, he noted that 62 percent of Biden’s nominees had already been confirmed by voice vote.
He continued: “On the day Klobuchar-King was introduced in 2023, 62 percent of Joe Biden’s nominees were already confirmed by voice vote. 62 percent confirmed by voice vote. That’s how Democrats defined a broken Senate. Let’s fast-forward to today. Zero percent of President Trump’s nominees have been confirmed by voice vote. Zero.”
According to Barrasso, Republicans recently proposed adopting similar measures to those previously advocated by Democrats but were met with opposition on the Senate floor.
“Senator Klobuchar said in 2023 grouping together nominees was vital for our ‘national security, economic success, and more.’ She was right. Yet yesterday, Democrats opposed their own proposal,” he said.
The Republican plan put forward excludes judicial appointments and focuses solely on sub-cabinet roles such as deputy secretaries and ambassadors—positions traditionally grouped together for confirmation votes in past administrations.
Barrasso emphasized that committee hearings and background checks would remain part of the process: “Every committee hearing and markup will still happen… Every nominee will still appear in front of committee… In other words, scrutiny will continue.”
He concluded his remarks stating: “Senate Republicans are putting back in place the very practice that Democrats endorsed until today – the very customs every Senate followed until now. Senate Republicans are restoring tradition. We are ending the Schumer Confirmation Shutdown. We are getting the Senate back to work for the American people.”
