U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), serving as Senate Majority Whip, addressed the ongoing delay in confirming President Donald J. Trump’s nominees during a press conference in Washington, D.C. Barrasso stated that Senate Republicans are preparing to take action to end what he described as an unprecedented blockade by Democrats.
“Republicans are ready to take action to overcome this historic blockade by the Democrats of President Trump’s nominees. The Democrats have done absolutely everything they can possibly do to prevent President Trump from getting his team in place and on the job,” Barrasso said.
He noted that every nominee sent by President Trump to the Senate floor has faced a filibuster, despite having already passed through committee processes, FBI vetting, investigations, and bipartisan committee votes. “The Democrats have filibustered every single nominee that has come from President Trump to the Floor of the United States Senate – filibustered every one that’s got to the Floor and this is after every one of these nominees has gone through the committee process, has gone through FBI vetting, has been investigated, has answered questions in the committees, and has been voted successfully out of committees – many of these in bipartisan ways. So, it is time now to return to this historic, long-term tradition of the Senate confirming people in groups,” he said.
Barrasso referenced previous legislative efforts by Senators Klobuchar and King in 2023 aimed at streamlining confirmations. He contrasted their period with current events: “Senator Klobuchar and Senator King, when they introduced their resolution and their legislation in 2023, they did it at a time when 62% of Joe Biden’s nominees had been confirmed by unanimous consent and by voice vote. At this point – eight months into the Trump term – zero, absolutely zero nominees have been confirmed by voice vote or unanimous consent.”
Barrasso concluded that Republicans intend to restore what he called “the historic role” of Senate advice and consent regarding nominations. “As a result, it is time to return to the historic role of the Senate of advise and consent. And to do that, Senate Republicans are committed to changing the rules.”
