Staff Reports
The electoral victory of Donald Trump has set the stage for a power play that would make even the boldest chess grandmasters raise an eyebrow. Trump is advocating for recess appointments, a strategy that could see him staffing his administration without having to endure the obligatory Senate vetting process, which has occasionally felt more akin to an Olympic-level obstacle course than a straightforward nomination. This approach allows Trump to bypass centrist Republicans who may not always share his hardline views.
The precedent for such tactics isn’t exactly new, but the extent to which Trump is pushing for them certainly is. Typically, recess appointments have been a tool for presidents to sidestep a sometimes-lengthy confirmation process. In Trump’s case, it could mean getting critical positions filled immediately, rather than allowing debate and dissent to stretch well into the next decade. In fact, he made it clear that any Republican aspiring for a leadership role in the Senate must support his recess appointment strategy. This was a clear signal that the next Republican Senate leader must bend to his will—no checks, no balances.
The Senate’s historical reluctance to allow full-blown recess appointments has often stemmed from a fear of unbridled executive power. However, as far as Trump is concerned, it’s time for a side step around political red tape. While past presidents have occasionally made use of this tactic, Trump is approaching it with a vigor that makes the others look like they were merely toe-dipping in the kiddie pool of political maneuvering. For instance, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush all dabbled in recess appointments but didn’t take the bold step of demanding unfettered access like Trump has.
Of course, having a solid Republican majority in the Senate is advantageous, but controversy is already brewing around some of Trump’s selections. For example, the nomination of Pete Hegseth, a former veteran and Fox News host, raised more than a few eyebrows. Then came the jaw-drop announcements of Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence and Matt Gaetz as attorney general. Just when the political world was adjusting to that rollercoaster, Trump threw in Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for added spice in the health department.
Recess appointments: How Trump hopes to skip Senate confirmations and fill his Cabinet https://t.co/Eko2lsrMau
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) November 15, 2024
Although Trump holds a slim Republican majority, the confirmations aren’t entirely in the bag. Some Senate Republicans already seem unamused, especially when it comes to the nomination of Gaetz. Resistance is simmering as Senators Collins and Murkowski have expressed their ‘shock’ at such nominations, with even their Democratic counterparts hinting at a potential revolt against these choices. However, a recess appointment for Gaetz could very well sidestep this drama, giving Trump an upper hand, while simultaneously inducing a collective sigh of relief from his supporters.
Yet, as always in politics, there’s a counter-move in the works. Congress could throw a wrench into Trump’s plans, opting for a pro forma session to block recess appointments entirely. This would essentially be an attempt to fortify the wall against the flamethrower that is Trump appointments, but for the moment, it appears that the heat is on. Recess appointments could become the ultimate power move in a game where the stakes couldn’t be higher, and the checks and balances of yore might just have to learn to adapt to this revamped political chessboard.
