Senate confirms 48 Trump nominees at once after changing chamber rules
New rules allow rapid confirmations of non-judicial nominees, while judicial posts and top Cabinet posts remain blocked.
The Senate on Thursday confirmed 48 of President Donald Trump's nominees in a single vote, the first time under new chamber rules designed to clear a backlog of executive-branch appointments delayed by Democrats. The vote was 51-47, and the rules allow the majority to advance multiple nominees with a simple majority, bypassing the previous requirement that a single objection could block action. The changes apply to non-judicial, lower-level nominations and do not affect judicial nominations or high-level Cabinet posts.
Among those confirmed were Jonathan Morrison as administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Kimberly Guilfoyle as U.S. ambassador to Greece, along with deputy secretaries for the Departments of Defense, Interior, Energy and other agencies.
Republicans have said the action 'fixed a broken process,' Senate Majority Leader John Thune said ahead of the vote. The move is the latest in a series of changes by both parties to weaken the filibuster and accelerate confirmations when they hold the majority. The rules apply to lower-level, non-judicial nominees and do not apply to judicial nominations or high-level Cabinet posts.
Democrats have criticized the shift, arguing that Trump's nominees have been historically weak and that the streamlined approach short-circuits Senate scrutiny. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called the batch 'historically bad' and warned Republicans that they would regret the change. He noted the 2013 rule change by then-Majority Leader Harry Reid that ended the 60-vote requirement for executive-branch and lower-court confirmations.
Thune signaled more confirmations are on the horizon, saying Republicans planned a second tranche in the coming weeks to clear more than 100 nominations pending for months. 'There will be more to come,' he said, signaling the pace of confirmations could accelerate as the majority proceeds.
The episode underscores how the confirmation process has become a partisan battleground, with lawmakers arguing over the proper balance between swift staffing of agencies and robust oversight. While supporters say the expedited path helps agencies operate effectively, opponents warn it could erode Senate prerogatives and oversight of presidential picks.
Looking ahead, Republicans intend to push a second round of confirmations to address a backlog that includes more than 100 nominations. Supporters say the expedited path will help agencies staffed to meet ongoing operational needs, while opponents warn of diminished oversight.
