Senate Republicans voted Thursday to change the chamber’s rules to allow them to speed up the confirmation of lower-level Trump administration nominees, saying the move is necessary to combat a blockade from Democrats.
Despite last-minute talks between Democrats and Republicans to avert the so-called “nuclear” move, the chamber voted 53-45 along party lines to lower the votes needed to move forward with executive resolutions on floor consideration of lower-level nominees in groups. Previously it took 60 votes on a procedural motion, now it will take a simple majority.
The action happened around a measure that would authorize the en bloc consideration in executive session of dozens of those nominees.
