Staff Reports
Senate Republican leaders have taken a victory lap regarding their rapid confirmation of President Donald Trump’s cabinet members, outpacing the historical snail’s pace of past administrations. As of a recent update, they have confirmed Trump’s cabinet positions more swiftly than Barack Obama’s initial cabinet back in 2009—even though they are operating with a smaller majority. With a humble 53-seat advantage, the GOP is making waves that Democrats with a filibuster-proof 60-seat supermajority back in the day could only dream of.
Democrats, who are usually experts in the fine art of obstruction, have been notably absent from any record-breaking efforts these days. The Republicans are working tirelessly to solidify Trump’s full cabinet in an impressive 31 days—something that took the Democrat-controlled Senate 36 days in 2009 to accomplish. Even Joe Biden’s administration, with a majority of their own just a couple of years ago, took a sloth-like 56 days to confirm 18 cabinet members. Shows what a little determination can do, doesn’t it?
— Sen. John Barrasso (@SenJohnBarrasso) February 19, 2025
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has put a spotlight on these achievements, suggesting that while his party races to confirm cabinet members, Democrats are better at pulling the brakes than pressing the gas. According to Thune, the GOP is all about getting Trump’s team in place to tackle pressing issues such as securing borders and maximizing American energy. It sounds like a laundry list of priorities to Americans tired of the sluggishness that often accompanies Democrat-led initiatives, which tend to resemble molasses more than momentum.
John Barrasso, the Senate Majority Whip, also celebrated the pace at which Republicans are confirming candidates, pointing out that they have managed to introduce and confirm a highly qualified roster of individuals to forward their agenda. With 18 cabinet members confirmed so far, it’s a stark reminder of what it means to deliver on campaign promises when a party is committed to action over inaction.
Currently, only a few remaining cabinet positions are left for confirmation, but the Senate is rapidly moving on these remaining nominees, ensuring that Trump’s administration can hit the ground running. With picks like Education Secretary-designate Linda McMahon and U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Elise Stefanik, still in the pipeline, it appears that the GOP isn’t just stopping for coffee anytime soon. And a shoutout to Kash Patel, who is in the final stretches of his confirmation for FBI director—a position critical for national security, albeit not categorized as “cabinet-level.” This demonstrates the true commitment of Republicans to ensure vital national positions are filled swiftly and effectively.
In a political landscape often dominated by delay tactics and back-and-forth bickering, the rapid advancement of cabinet confirmations by the Republican-led Senate paints a clear picture: they mean business, and they’re not waiting for Democrats to catch up.
