The Senate’s unanimous 99-0 confirmation of Marco Rubio as secretary of state was a rare moment of unity and bi-partisanship. For many Americans, it gave us hope that President Donald Trump’s Cabinet and Senate confirmation appointments would receive a fair and balanced process.
Sadly, it appears that this is not going to happen. The real battle over Trump receiving the Cabinet and other appointment confirmations he deserves is just beginning. Democrats, led by obstructionists like Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, are already maneuvering to delay votes on other crucial appointments. This obstruction is a direct attempt to weaken the administration and stall progress.
Murphy’s tactics are part of a larger strategy—slow the confirmation process, tie up the Senate, and prevent key officials from taking their posts. This is not about vetting nominees; it is about sabotaging the government’s ability to function.
Every delay leaves America vulnerable, whether in foreign policy, national security or economic policy. A lack of leadership in critical positions leads to uncertainty, mismanagement and inefficiency at every level of government. Foreign adversaries watch these delays closely, recognizing them as opportunities to exploit American inaction.
The Constitution grants the president the power to make recess appointments when the Senate fails to act. The recent actions from Murphy are the tip of the iceberg. Now is the time to use this authority decisively.
If Democrats refuse to allow votes, then the administration must bypass them. Every moment wasted emboldens America’s enemies and weakens our institutions. The country cannot afford drawn-out political games while pressing issues—from national security to economic stability—demand immediate attention.
I’m sure there are some that will argue that recess appointments are a radical measure, but they are not. What’s radical is the game Democrats are playing right now. Recess appointments are a constitutional tool that presidents from both parties have used when faced with Senate obstruction. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower and even Barack Obama exercised this authority.
Republicans must recognize that playing by old rules in a new era of Democratic obstructionism is a losing strategy. The time for action is now. If Republicans allow Democrats to dictate the pace of government appointments, they will effectively hand over control of the executive branch’s functionality to a partisan minority.
If the Senate won’t do their job because of senators like Murphy, the president must ensure the executive branch can still function. The consequences of inaction are too severe. Agencies responsible for border security, military readiness, economic policy and law enforcement require effective leadership. Leaving these departments in limbo is not just negligent—it is a dereliction of duty.
This is not just about personnel—it’s about whether the elected government can carry out the will of the American people. Every agency left leaderless, every court left without a judge, every embassy without an ambassador and every stalled defense appointment plays into the hands of those who want to see the administration fail.
The American people did not vote for paralysis; they voted for action. If recess appointments are not made, it will set a precedent that future Democratic-controlled Senates will exploit even more aggressively.
The time for patience has passed. The Rubio confirmation showed what happens when Democrats have no choice but to cooperate. But that was an anomaly, not the norm.
We cannot allow further delays to undermine Trump and the mandate he was handed by the American people.
Recess appointments must happen—immediately. Republicans must stand firm and use every tool available to them to ensure that the government remains functional and effective. The alternative—accepting endless gridlock—is simply unacceptable.
Trump and his team have put forward an all-star team of picks for the Cabinet, agencies and ambassadorships that must be confirmed immediately. If Democrats are going to delay this process then they have forced our hand and recess appointments are necessary for the continuity of our nation, domestically and abroad.
Bryan E. Leib is the Founder and Managing Director of Henry Public Relations. Gavin Wax is a New York-based conservative political activist, commentator, columnist, operative, and strategist
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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