Get ready for a busy weekend in the Senate as they scramble to confirm or push forward several of President Donald Trump’s nominees—despite efforts from Democrats to slow things down with procedural hurdles.
The drama started Tuesday evening when negotiations between Democrats and Republicans broke down over John Ratcliffe’s nomination for CIA director. The disagreement led to a push from GOP leaders to advance not just Ratcliffe, but also Governor Kristi Noem for Homeland Security Secretary and Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary.
Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) had some strong words for the opposition: “I hope no one’s making weekend plans because we’re going to get these nominees confirmed. This is really about dragging out the process to play procedural games.”
A Breakthrough… But Still Some Roadblocks
On Monday, the Senate Intelligence Committee voted 14-3 to advance Ratcliffe’s nomination, with support from top Democrats. However, there’s still tension in the air. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) agrees that the process should speed up but acknowledges every senator has the right to raise concerns.
Some Democrats are not on board, though. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) blocked Ratcliffe’s nomination for a quicker vote, citing worries over his qualifications and loyalty to Trump. Murphy even suggested a longer debate was necessary due to serious questions about Ratcliffe’s ability to handle the job.
“I don’t think it’s too much to ask for a full debate on the floor,” Murphy stated, adding that Ratcliffe’s history of politicizing intelligence raised red flags.
Cotton wasn’t having it. He countered, saying the real aim of the delay was to “deny President Trump his Cabinet in a timely fashion.” His message? “We’re going to get these nominees done — the easy way or the hard way.”
A Speedy Confirmation in Sight?
The Senate has already confirmed Secretary of State Marco Rubio with a unanimous vote, and while the CIA chief position isn’t Cabinet-level, Ratcliffe’s nomination is high on the list due to national security concerns. Meanwhile, Noem and Hegseth are also in the spotlight, with both facing questions about their qualifications. A new misconduct allegation against Hegseth has stirred up even more debate, though he denies any wrongdoing.
Despite the obstacles, Senate Republicans are determined to move quickly. If Democrats don’t ease up on their opposition, it looks like the final votes for Ratcliffe, Noem, and Hegseth will happen over the weekend.
Some Democrats Warming Up to Certain Nominees
Despite the controversy surrounding some of Trump’s picks, there’s been a shift in mood from certain Democrats. Ratcliffe, who served as a congressman, promised to keep the intelligence community apolitical. He reassured senators that he would ensure “wokeness” doesn’t interfere with national security interests, and that the CIA’s mission would remain focused on objective, unbiased intelligence gathering.
“We will produce insightful, objective, all-source analysis, never allowing political or personal biases to cloud our judgement,” Ratcliffe said, trying to ease concerns about his ability to separate politics from his work.
As the weekend draws near, it’s clear that the Senate will be working hard to wrap up these nominations—whether it’s smooth sailing or a stormy ride!
