In a sharp display of resolve, Senate Republicans have finally advanced the confirmation of more than 100 of President Donald Trump’s nominees, even as the federal government remains mired in a partial shutdown now entering its seventh day.
The vote, which broke strictly along party lines, cleared a months-long bottleneck in the confirmation process and left only a few nominations pending. The move comes as Capitol Hill remains paralyzed by failed negotiations to restore funding and end the closure that has halted key operations nationwide.
Among those confirmed are several figures closely tied to the president, including Herschel Walker, the former NFL star and past Senate candidate, tapped to serve as ambassador to the Bahamas, and Sergio Gor, a longtime Trump strategist, selected to represent the U.S. in India, reported Fox News. The confirmations also encompass numerous senior executive appointments, federal legal posts, and the extended term of Securities and Exchange Commission member Paul Atkins, whose service will now continue through 2031.
The action marks the second time Republicans have invoked a newly adopted procedural rule reducing the threshold for advancing nomination packages to a simple majority — a reform they say was necessary to break Democratic obstruction. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., denounced the opposition’s tactics as a “temper tantrum.”. Thune’s remarks reflect growing Republican frustration over what they describe as coordinated stalling by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and his caucus.
Traditionally, lower-level nominations — particularly those enjoying bipartisan support in committee — are approved swiftly through unanimous consent. But Democrats’ sustained resistance forced Republicans to adopt what they call a fair-minded modernization of Senate procedure, intended, they argue, to benefit both parties in future administrations.
Under the revised framework, the majority can bundle an unlimited number of nominees into a single confirmation session, though procedural hurdles still precede the final vote. In a previous round last month, the Senate confirmed 48 Trump nominees, including Kimberly Guilfoyle as ambassador to Greece and Callista Gingrich as envoy to Switzerland.
