Confirmation Slowdown Forces a Senate Showdown

President Trump’s first nominee was confirmed on the day he was inaugurated, when senators voted unanimously to install their former colleague Marco Rubio as secretary of state. It has been tough sledding for executive branch nominees ever since.

Citing objectionable Trump administration candidates and lawless acts by the president and his team, Senate Democrats have slowed the process to a trickle, insisting on recorded votes for every nominee in a move that has left top agency slots vacant. It has also angered Republicans who accuse them of a new level of obstruction when it comes to confirmations.

Senator John Thune, the South Dakota Republican and majority leader, is threatening to cancel part of the Senate’s August recess, scheduled to begin at the end of the week, to process nominees if Democrats do not relent and allow some of Mr. Trump’s picks to speed through. Republicans have also begun considering changes in Senate rules and practices to overcome the tactic.

“If you look at just the historical precedent with regard to noms,” Mr. Thune said on Tuesday, referring to nominations, “we have never seen in history anything like what the Democrats are now doing.” He added: “If it doesn’t change, we’re going to grind it out here and Democrats are going to be here whether they like it or not.”

Democrats say they are weighing whether to make a deal with Republicans on a consensus package of nominees before breaking for recess, and want to see whom Mr. Thune puts forward. But they say they are comfortable with their actions so far, given what they call the poor caliber of the president’s nominees and the fact that his administration is routinely usurping the powers of Congress, including by withholding appropriated funds.

“Historically bad nominees deserve historic levels of scrutiny,” said Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the minority leader.