Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees are mired in Senate limbo, with Democrats citing the Republican treatment of Biden's appointees as grounds for delay. Nominees face postponed hearings, lost debate time, and increased scrutiny, reflecting growing tension between both parties over the future of key federal offices.
Senate Democrats are still fuming over how Republicans handled President Joe Biden's picks four years ago, so Donald Trump may be on edge as he waits for the Senate to vote on his Cabinet nominations.
According to a story by Politico's Ursula Perano and Jordain Carney, the other nominees are expected to face a lengthy confirmation process, while Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) is the only one scheduled for a swift vote.
Despite the fact that Rubio is well-supported by his fellow senators, the report cites a number of reasons why votes on other Cabinet nominees have been delayed, including incomplete paperwork, postponed hearings, and Democratic intentions to deny debate time to Trump's most contentious appointees.
Democratic leaders are reportedly hesitant to offer Republicans any more support than they received on January 20, 2021, when only Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines' nomination was confirmed. This was in contrast to President Joe Biden's Cabinet appointments. Two members of Trump's Cabinet, Jim Mattis (Defense) and John Kelly (Homeland Security), were confirmed by the Senate Democrats in 2017.
Even with Trump's less contentious candidates, one Democratic senator asserted that this time around, reversal is fair play.
"Were Republicans accommodating?" Senate Minority Leader Chris Murphy (D-CT) made the observation before making his own statement, saying that Republicans need to know that breaking with convention and practice here will have consequences.
Take Trump's controversial choice for defense secretary, Fox News personality Pete Hegseth, for example. He is facing multiple accusations of sexual assault and public drunkenness, and his nomination could be up for vote in the Senate on Monday evening. However, Democrats are unlikely to agree to a rush to the floor because of the controversy surrounding his nomination, The Raw Story points out.
"I expect our Democratic friends will delay it to the extent to which they are free to do under the rules. Wednesday, Thursday perhaps," Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) admitted.
They have made it plain that they believe more information should be shared, and not only for themselves but also for their Republican colleagues, as Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), a fervent critic of Hegseth, reacted.
On Thursday, Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley laid out a schedule that, according to that schedule, will not see the confirmation of Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi until the following week. That's because, as Politico reports, at the first panel meeting next week, the panel's Democrats will have the opportunity to request a one-week delay of any nominee that is placed on the committee's agenda.
