Senator Mike Lee Proposes Recess Appointment Strategy to Advance Trump Nominees Amid Confirmation Delays

Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) announced on Saturday his plan to introduce a resolution that would enable President Donald Trump to make recess appointments, aiming to bypass delays in confirming his nominees during the August Senate recess. In response, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) criticized Trump's refusal to release White House funding in exchange for advancing nominee confirmations, sarcastically calling it "the art of the deal." Despite the ongoing confirmation gridlock, Lee stated on social media that he and Senate Republicans are prepared to confirm Trump's nominees and have devised alternative strategies should Democratic delays persist. "I’ve drafted an adjournment resolution that allows President Trump to exercise his recess appointment authority. If Democrats insist on stalling, they may not like the outcome," Lee explained in a video posted on X. He emphasized the Republicans' commitment to appointing Trump’s candidates and expressed confidence in their success. Additionally, Lee participated in Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast, noting that the Senate will be occupied with government funding discussions in September, which could contribute to a backlog o...