The incoming Senate Majority Leader, John Thune of South Dakota, has made it abundantly clear that he’s on the same page as President-elect Donald Trump when it comes to ensuring cabinet nominees are seated without unnecessary delays. If that means invoking the often controversial tool of recess appointments to sidestep Senate obstruction, so be it. Thune seems prepared to play hardball, signaling that Democrats shouldn’t expect to throw a wrench into the confirmation process without consequences.
Recess appointments, for the uninitiated, let a president bypass the usual Senate approval process to fill vacancies while Congress is out of session. While the Senate’s role in vetting nominees is indeed a constitutional safeguard, Thune appears ready to hit the timeout button on Democrats, citing their penchant for obstructing anything that doesn’t align with their agenda. And given the “Resistance” antics of the last several years, his stance might feel like karmic payback to some.
Thune has no intention of letting Democrats gum up the works, declaring that Republicans won’t sit idly by while the will of the voters gets derailed. It’s not difficult to imagine the reverse scenario: if Democrats had won, they’d likely be bulldozing their way through confirmations, recess appointments included. Thune’s readiness to employ every tool in the box ensures that Trump’s cabinet picks won’t get bogged down by what he considers to be partisan theatrics.
The likelihood of obstruction looms large, particularly for some of Trump’s more polarizing choices. Names like Tulsi Gabbard, tapped to lead national intelligence, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., slated for Health and Human Services, are bound to ruffle feathers. But the real firestorm is likely to revolve around Matt Gaetz, Trump’s pick for Attorney General. Even within Republican ranks, Gaetz’s nomination might raise some eyebrows, which could make his confirmation the most contentious of the lot.
Despite the expected opposition, Thune remains unfazed, stating that the Senate will fulfill its constitutional “advice and consent” role—but not at the cost of allowing Democrats to hijack the process. His no-nonsense approach seems to echo the sentiment of many Republicans, including Rep. Thomas Massie, who summed up the situation with characteristic bluntness: Democrats might have to just “suck it up.” Thune’s resolve sets the tone for a GOP-led Senate that’s clearly gearing up to take no prisoners in Trump’s second term.
