Senate Republicans, led by Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), have pushed through a dramatic rule change lowering the vote threshold for confirming dozens of President Trump’s stalled lower-level nominees. In a 53–45 party-line vote on September 11, 2025, the Senate invoked the so-called “nuclear option,” allowing blocs of executive branch officials — such as assistant secretaries and agency administrators — to be confirmed by a simple majority rather than the traditional 60 votes. The change, which does not apply to judges or cabinet members, is designed to overcome what Republicans describe as “unprecedented obstruction” by Democrats who have delayed confirmation of noncontroversial appointments.
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