Mary Benefield 3rd Vice Chair | DeKalb County Republican Party
Mary Benefield 3rd Vice Chair | DeKalb County Republican Party
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is contemplating the use of recess appointments to expedite the confirmation of President Trump's Cabinet nominees if the Senate does not act promptly. This move comes as President Trump expresses frustration with the Senate's slow pace in confirming key positions.
In a Truth Social post, Trump emphasized the importance of recess appointments to avoid delays, stating, "Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner."
Elon Musk supported this urgency by tweeting that without recess appointments, it could take years to confirm new administration members, hindering necessary changes.
The U.S. Constitution permits temporary appointments during Senate recesses for positions requiring approval. For such an appointment, Congress must be in recess for at least 10 days. The House Speaker can propose a resolution for both chambers to adjourn or use disagreements between them to enable recess appointments.
Johnson discussed these challenges on Fox News Sunday with Shannon Bream regarding nominations like former Congressman Matt Gaetz for Attorney General. The House Ethics Committee is investigating Gaetz but has postponed their meeting.
Johnson stated he was unaware of the report's contents due to procedural rules and emphasized that releasing reports on former members could set a dangerous precedent. He described Gaetz as a reformer needed in Washington and defended maintaining traditional protocols.
Despite bipartisan calls for transparency, Johnson insisted on limiting jurisdiction to current members. He expressed hope that if necessary, all options would be considered should Senate gridlock continue.
When asked about facilitating recess appointments, Johnson affirmed his belief that a president should choose their team and highlighted potential harm from Senate stalling. Critics argue this undermines constitutional roles, but Johnson remains hopeful for cooperation while defending constitutional principles.
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