US President-elect Donald Trump demanded on Sunday that senators set aside the generally required approval procedures when he appoints top officials to his administration.
A clause in the US Constitution allows the president to make appointments without Senate approval when that chamber of Congress is not in session for an extended period.
However, this provision is rarely activated, as senators typically ensure they are in session when appointments are announced, allowing them to exercise their power to scrutinise the administration.
The Republican Party regained the Senate majority, which will convene in January to be sworn in and organised. Democratic senators are expected to potentially delay approving appointments by the new president.
“Sometimes votes can take two years or even longer. That’s what (the Democrats) did four years ago, and we can’t allow that to happen again,” the president-elect fumed on X, referring to his first term (2017-2021).
“Any Republican senator seeking the prestigious position of Senate Majority Leader must agree to these appointments” during recess periods, he insisted.
All three senators vying for the position supported Donald Trump’s demand.
“I agree 100%. I’ll do everything possible to ensure your appointments (are approved) as soon as possible,” assured Rick Scott, a senator elected in Florida, who has the backing of billionaires Vivek Ramaswamy, Elon Musk, and other Trump loyalists for the role of Republican Senate leader.
“We must act quickly and decisively to get the president’s appointees in place as soon as possible, and all options are on the table, including appointments during Senate recess,” stated John Thune, elected in Dakota, currently the Republicans’ second in command in the Senate.
“It’s unacceptable for Democratic senators to block the appointments”, added John Cornyn, elected in Texas. “If they do, we will continue to meet, even on weekends, until they relent. The Constitution grants the president the authority to make appointments during recess periods of Congress,” he added.
The US Senate reviews and confirms by vote, initially at committee level and then in the full chamber, appointments of ministers, deputy ministers, ambassadors, military officials, federal agency heads, and judges, particularly those of the Supreme Court.
“No (judicial) appointment should be approved” before the Republicans choose their leader and the new members of the upper house of Congress take office, Trump demanded yesterday.
Source: AMNA
