Special Poll
House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that “there may be a function” to use recess appointments to expedite President-elect Trump’s Cabinet confirmations.
Recess appointments would allow Trump to bypass the Senate’s advice-and-consent role, raising concerns about the chamber forfeiting its traditional responsibilities in Cabinet confirmations.
President-elect Trump has made it clear that any Senate Republican leader must agree to recess appointments to ensure timely confirmation of his nominees.
Senator John Thune, who won the Senate Republican leader race, has indicated openness to the idea, stating that “all options are on the table.”
In a Fox News Sunday interview, Johnson did not rule out the possibility of recess appointments, stating, “We’ll have to see how it plays out,” and citing the “very partisan atmosphere” in Washington as a potential obstacle to Senate confirmations.
Johnson noted that if the Senate refuses to recess but the House agrees, Trump could have the authority to adjourn the entire Congress, per Axios’ Ivana Saric.
Congressional experts have raised concerns that bypassing the traditional confirmation process could expand executive power by undermining the checks-and-balances system.
Johnson expressed some sympathy for opposition to Trump’s proposal but criticized the backlash as “hyperbole” intended to distract and delay the president-elect’s ability to fulfill his mandate.
The Constitution grants the president temporary appointment powers during congressional adjournments, but it remains uncertain whether the Republican-majority Senate would agree to a recess.
Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) expressed doubt that Republican senators would support such a move, emphasizing their role as a constitutional “check and balance.”
Trump’s insistence on recess appointments reflects his strategy to pressure Senate Republicans into approving controversial Cabinet picks, effectively challenging them to defy his choices.