Senate Democrats consider more holds on Trump’s nominees

• Senate Democrats could place holds on Trump nominees in protest of what they consider to be extreme policies. The holds could affect nominees at the State Department and Justice Department.
• The senators are protesting Trump’s foreign aid freeze and comments Elon Musk made about USAID.
• Placing holds on nominees would only delay the confirmation process, not stop it entirely.

Senate Democrats are considering placing holds on more of President Donald Trump’s nominees to protest what they consider extreme policies. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, put a hold on State Department nominees, while Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said he is considering doing the same for Justice Department nominees. 

“We ought to be putting a hold on all nominees, and I am certain that we’re going to stop as much as we can, any of these nominees,” Blumenthal told Straight Arrow News. 

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Schatz placed what he described as a “blanket hold” on State Department nominees. It’s to protest President Trump’s freeze on foreign aid and Elon Musk’s statement that he will shut down USAID. 

“This freeze is just flatly illegal,” Schatz said. “The executive branch has the obligation to see to it that it’s done in a way that is meritorious, but they don’t get to decide not to spend the money.” 

SAN spoke with multiple Republicans about Schatz’s move, who said it’s his prerogative. 

“If he wants to defend these policies on the floor, if he wants to go talk about USAID and that they’re spending American money on promoting transgender surgeries for minors abroad, go ahead,” Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said. 

Schatz’s hold will only delay the confirmation process, not stop it entirely. Senate rules require multiple votes and 30 hours for debate for each nominee unless there’s an agreement between parties to move faster. So, Schatz is really requiring the chamber to eat up all that time when lower-level nominees are typically confirmed more quickly under a time agreement. 

“You have to understand that the procedures in the Senate depend on the votes that you have. If you need 60 votes, we’re in [a] pretty strong position. If you need a simple majority, we’ve lost a few of those votes,”  Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said. “So you have to be an honest and realistic broker and look at these situations individually.”

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Durbin led a letter to Justice Department nominees and acting directors demanding answers about firings and reassignments at the DOJ and FBI. He confirmed to Straight Arrow News that placing holds on Justice Department nominees could be an option if they don’t get the answers they want.