Senate Democrats are grinding President Donald Trump’s nominees to a halt with petty procedural tricks. Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, the No. 2 Senate Republican, is fed up and calling for a rules overhaul to break the logjam, as the Daily Caller reports. His push signals a GOP ready to fight back against Chuck Schumer’s obstruction playbook.
Barrasso, in a fiery Wall Street Journal op-ed, endorsed changing Senate rules to speed up confirmations for Trump’s picks, as only 135 of over 1,000 senior-level nominees have been confirmed. Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer has weaponized procedural roadblocks to stall the process, dragging out what used to be routine approvals. The GOP is rallying to restore efficiency and sideline the left’s resistance tactics.
The campaign to reform Senate rules gained steam on Tuesday, with Barrasso leading the charge. Senate Majority Leader John Thune echoed the call, noting the dismal 10-11% confirmation rate for Trump’s nominees by August. Schumer’s delays are not just a nuisance -- they’re a deliberate strategy to undermine the administration’s agenda.
Schumer bragged about his stalling strategy on The Parnas Perspective podcast on Aug. 14, crowing, “Damn straight we’re blocking these nominees.” His boast reveals a calculated effort to paralyze the confirmation process with endless roll-call votes. Such tactics turn seconds-long approvals into days-long battles, clogging the Senate’s work.
Democrats have forced multiple roll-call votes on over 40 nominees for positions that historically sailed through without debate. Barrasso pointed out, “Confirmations used to take seconds. Now, each can take days.” This isn’t governance -- it’s a tantrum dressed up as procedure.
Schumer’s claim that “historically bad nominees need a historic response” is a flimsy excuse for his obstruction. His strategy reeks of partisan grandstanding, prioritizing progressive posturing over the nation’s needs. The Senate’s job is to advise and consent, not to throw sand in the gears.
Thune, speaking to ABC affiliate KOTA-TV on Thursday, didn’t mince words: “Something is broken.” With only a fraction of Trump’s nominees confirmed, the Senate’s dysfunction is glaring. The GOP is ready to rewrite the rules to restore order and expedite the process.
Barrasso slammed the Democrats’ tactics, noting they’ve forced votes on “posts never subject to a single one.” This isn’t about vetting -- it’s about sabotage. The Senate’s constitutional duty is being held hostage by Schumer’s partisan games.
A deal between Trump and Schumer to speed up confirmations fell apart when Schumer demanded concessions on agency funding. Trump, rightly, refused to bend to such blackmail. Schumer’s attempt to leverage delays for political gain shows his priorities lie with power, not progress.
GOP senators began discussing rule changes before the August state work period, signaling a united front. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul proposed a bold fix: eliminate cloture motions and motions to proceed, allowing just one vote per nominee. This streamlined approach would gut Schumer’s ability to stall.
Paul, speaking to the DCNF in July, said, “The caucus is inclined to do something like that.” His proposal cuts through the bureaucratic sludge, ensuring nominees get a fair and swift vote. It’s a practical antidote to the Democrats’ dawdling.
Barrasso warned that only 135 of Trump’s 1,000-plus nominees have been confirmed, a pace that cripples governance. “Confirming even the most routine nominees is now a bitter fight,” he wrote. The Senate’s paralysis serves no one but the progressive agenda.
Schumer’s gleeful admission, “We blocked them all, and they were frustrated,” exposes his disregard for the Senate’s role. His “every tool in the toolbox” approach prioritizes partisan wins over national interest. Trump’s nominees deserve a vote, not a vendetta.
Paul predicted that if Schumer refuses to negotiate, “the rules will change.” The GOP’s patience is wearing thin, and rightly so. Schumer’s obstruction is a power grab, plain and simple, dressed up as principled resistance.
The Senate must act to restore its constitutional function. Barrasso, Thune, and Paul are leading the charge to end the Democrats’ procedural charade. It’s time to put governance over gamesmanship and let Trump’s team get to work.
