Senate Majority Leader John Thune took the first steps Monday to change the Senate rules so that large groups of lower-level administration nominees can be confirmed by simple majority.
The process, which will play out in the coming days, could mean President Donald Trump will soon see picks for EPA and the departments of Energy, Interior and Agriculture approved after weeks or months of delay.
The list includes Jessica Kramer to lead EPA’s water office and Katherine Scarlett to lead the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Both have garnered bipartisan support.
Indeed, Republicans said they would prioritize nominees with bipartisan support in their rules-change gambit. They blame Democrats for not allowing any civilian nominees to be confirmed by unanimous consent or voice vote in the second Trump administration.
