GOP set to 'trigger the nuclear option' to get Trump's nominees approved: report

Republicans in the U.S. Senate are frustrated with Democrats' delaying approval for President Donald Trump's political appointees to his government.

Punchbowl News reported Tuesday that "Senate Republicans are on track to trigger the so-called 'nuclear option' as they look to beat back a historic campaign by Senate Democrats to slow-walk Trump’s nominees."

The report said that there are several options that the Republicans are looking at to eliminate existing rules being used by Democrats. One proposal would allow senators to vote on up to 10 nominees at once if they were all approved by the same committee.

"Based on a 2023 Democratic effort, this 'en bloc' confirmation proposal would dramatically speed up the process and help clear the backlog of more than 140 presidential picks awaiting floor action," Punchbowl News said.

"Republicans could get creative, too, by allowing more than 10 nominations or dropping the requirement that all come from the same committee," the report continued. "We also expect Senate Republicans to continue dangling the prospect of recess appointments as a way to pressure Democrats on nominations. Yet even some Senate Republicans are uneasy about this option."

However, some Republicans are already expressing buyer's remorse for the Cabinet nominees that they approved in the first 200 days of the administration. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) has been furious with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a post on his X account indicated. And Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee have been humiliated as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has already faced several scandals, the Economic Times pointed out.

Read the morning opener at Punchbowl News.