Republican leaders and senators are resisting Trump's call to eliminate the filibuster, citing its role in encouraging bipartisan cooperation, with most GOP senators currently opposed to changing Senate rules to abolish it.
Republicans changed Senate rules to speed up the confirmation of Trump’s nominees after bipartisan negotiations failed, allowing nominees to be considered in groups, but the move was opposed by Democrats and will take effect next week.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune is pushing to change Senate rules to expedite the confirmation process for lower-level Trump administration nominees, citing delays caused by Democratic procedural tactics, while Democrats warn this could lead to unchecked presidential nominations and undermine Senate traditions.
Senate Majority Leader Thune announced that Republicans plan to change Senate rules to expedite the confirmation of President Trump's executive branch nominees, citing Democratic delays as unsustainable. The move involves grouping nominations for quicker votes, excluding high-profile positions, and requires a simple majority. This strategy follows years of bipartisan rule changes and escalating confirmation standoffs, with potential to confirm over 100 nominees soon.
Senate Republicans are considering using the 'nuclear option' to change rules and confirm multiple Trump administration nominees more quickly, amid Democratic opposition and concerns about setting a precedent for future partisan use.
GOP senators are considering changing Senate rules within weeks to speed up confirmations of federal nominees, excluding Cabinet and Supreme Court picks, by potentially invoking the 'nuclear option' with a simple majority vote, though some senators remain opposed.
Congress is returning to a busy schedule with key issues including a vote on the Jeffrey Epstein files, ongoing government funding negotiations amid a potential shutdown, and discussions on Senate rules and a comprehensive crime bill, all amid tensions between Democrats and Republicans and President Trump's influence.
Congress returns from recess facing a critical government funding deadline of September 30, with disputes over budget allocations, efforts to release Jeffrey Epstein files, proposals to ban stock trading by lawmakers, and potential changes to Senate rules to expedite Trump's nominees amid ongoing political tensions.
The Senate is facing a backlog of over 130 Trump administration nominees, with negotiations ongoing between Democrats and Republicans to expedite confirmations before the summer recess, amid broader political tensions and discussions about potential rule changes. Meanwhile, other legislative and oversight issues, including housing legislation and judicial nominations, are also progressing with bipartisan support or controversy.
The Senate parliamentarian ruled that key Medicaid and healthcare provisions in the GOP's tax and spending bill violate procedural rules, forcing Republicans to reconsider their strategy as they aim to pass the legislation before the July 4th deadline, with significant implications for Medicaid funding and healthcare coverage.
A Republican proposal to sell millions of acres of public lands across Western states, including California, was removed from a Senate bill for violating procedural rules, sparking praise from environmentalists and opposition from land advocates. The plan, initially advanced by Senator Mike Lee, aimed to address housing needs but was deemed extraneous to the budget by the Senate parliamentarian, leading to its rejection. Lee has indicated plans to revise and reintroduce the proposal, but environmental groups see the decision as a victory for land conservation.
The Senate parliamentarian ruled that a key GOP proposal to shift food stamp costs to states violates Senate rules, complicating the party's efforts to pass a large tax and spending bill aimed at extending tax cuts and cutting federal programs, with potential impacts on millions of Americans' benefits.
House Republicans have finalized modifications to their tax and spending bill to ensure it complies with Senate rules, including dropping certain policies like the employee retention tax credit and military funding, to facilitate smoother passage and meet a July 4 deadline.