Trump isn’t playing around anymore. And D.C. is taking it poorly.
Now the US Senate is in an uproar after Trump made a shocking demand.
Trump Calls for Senate to Stay and Confirm Nominees
On July 19, 2025, President Donald Trump urged Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) to reconsider the Senate’s planned August recess until more of his 136 pending civilian nominees are confirmed.
In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote, “Hopefully the very talented John Thune, fresh off our many victories over the past two weeks and, indeed, 6 months, will cancel August recess (and long weekends!), in order to get my incredible nominees confirmed. We need them badly!!!”
The Senate is scheduled to adjourn after August 1 and return on September 2, leaving a month-long gap during which critical roles in agencies like labor, education, and agriculture, as well as judicial and ambassadorial positions, remain unfilled. As of July 21, 2025, the Senate has confirmed 96 civilian nominees, a faster pace than the 54 confirmed at this point in Trump’s first term and ahead of former President Joe Biden’s first-year totals, according to The Washington Post.
However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has required cloture votes for nearly all nominees, slowing the process. Senators face a choice between taking their scheduled break or staying to fulfill their constitutional role in confirming nominees, a decision that impacts the functioning of the federal government.
Appropriations Deadline Looms as Senate Faces Tight Schedule
The Senate’s workload extends beyond nominations, with the stopgap funding bill from March set to expire on September 30, 2025, raising the risk of a government shutdown if annual appropriations bills are not passed.
On July 22, Thune plans to introduce the first bill, covering military construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs, which requires 60 votes to end debate and necessitates bipartisan cooperation.
Thune noted on Fox News, “We are going to need to get appropriations done. That will require some cooperation from Democrats, and hopefully they will be willing to make sure that the government is funded.”
A continuing resolution to extend current funding levels may be needed if the recess depletes legislative time. Senators must weigh the importance of completing these bills to maintain government operations against the tradition of a summer recess, ensuring they prioritize the needs of the public.
Bipartisan Challenges Complicate Senate’s Work
The Senate’s ability to confirm nominees and pass appropriations bills hinges on navigating partisan divides.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) emphasized the need for bipartisanship, stating, “I think the most important thing for us to do is to continue to move the appropriations process as expeditiously as we can, to try and find bipartisan agreement.”
However, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) expressed frustration over a Republican-led rescissions package that cut funding for public broadcasting and foreign aid, saying, “They stabbed us in the back, and if they commit to us that they won’t do that again, then we might be able to write bills.”
Schumer faced criticism from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) in March for supporting the continuing resolution, highlighting Democratic divisions.
Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought advocated for conservative priorities, noting, “There is no voter in the country that went to the polls and said, ‘I’m voting for a bipartisan appropriations process.’”
