Trump Ends Senate Nominee Negotiations Amid Allegations of Political Extortion [UPDATE]

President Donald Trump has abruptly ended negotiations with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer over the confirmation of several presidential nominees, citing what he described as an "egregious" and unprecedented demand for over $1 billion in exchange for allowing votes on bipartisan-supported candidates. In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Schumer of attempting political extortion and instructed Republican lawmakers to reject the offer outright. This breakdown in talks resulted in the Senate confirming only seven nominees before recessing until September, instead of up to 60 that had previously been approved in committee. Schumer characterized the situation as a win for Democrats, criticizing Trump's decision to withdraw from negotiations. Sources indicated that Democrats were seeking to unfreeze funding for the National Institutes of Health and foreign aid programs, alongside guarantees from the White House not to propose further budget cuts, in exchange for supporting some of Trump's non-controversial nominees. Republicans expressed frustration over shifting demands and the lack of a deal, with some noting that the process appeared to be influenced more by political pos...