WASHINGTON—Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), in a letter to his successor Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), emphasized the Senate’s constitutional duty to provide advice and consent when dealing with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees.
The GOP will take control of the Senate with a projected 53–47 majority beginning Jan. 3, 2025.
Schumer said the Democrats are willing to be bipartisan when dealing with the nominees, some of whom have raised objections among Democrats, although Schumer has not spoken out against any.
Examples of the two sides working together, said Schumer, include “reviewing standard FBI background-investigation materials, scheduling hearings and markups in the committees of jurisdiction, and considering nominees on the Senate floor.”
“In our system of checks and balances, the Senate plays a vital role in ensuring the president appoints well-qualified public officials that will dutifully serve the American people and honor their oaths to the Constitution,” he wrote.
Schumer went on to say that the Senate “should not and must not waver in our Constitutional duty.”
The Epoch Times has reached out to Thune’s office for comment.
Appearing on Fox News on Nov. 15, Thune said that “the Senate will perform its constitutional role under advice and consent,” but that “we’re not going to allow the Democrats to thwart the will of the American people.”
Thune said that when it comes to Trump’s nominees, “None of this is going to be easy.”
The president-elect has filled out his Cabinet and many top-level roles.
The nominees include, but are not limited to: Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) for secretary of state, Fox News commentator Pete Hegseth for defense secretary, investor Scott Bessent for treasury secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for health and human services secretary, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for U.S. attorney general, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem for homeland security secretary, former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) for director of national intelligence, and energy executive Chris Wright for energy secretary.
Trump initially announced Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) as his nominee for U.S. attorney general, but Gaetz withdrew from consideration.
Trump said he would use recess appointments if the Senate doesn’t move to confirm his picks.
The Constitution states that “the President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.”
This would require the Senate to pass a resolution to recess—something not done in recent years. When the Senate is unofficially on recess, pro forma sessions are held with no legislative business conducted.
All the candidates—Thune, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.)—agreed with Trump.
“We must act quickly and decisively to get the president’s nominees in place as soon as possible, & all options are on the table to make that happen, including recess appointments,“ Thune posted on X. ”We cannot let Schumer and Senate Dems block the will of the American people.”
