Senate confirms 48 of Trump's nominees at once after changing the chamber's rules

"WASHINGTON -- The Senate has confirmed 48 of President Donald Trump's nominees at once, voting for the first time under new rules to begin clearing a backlog of executive branch positions that had been delayed by Democrats. Frustrated by the stalling tactics, Senate Republicans moved last week to make it easier to confirm large groups of lower-level, non-judicial nominations. Democrats had forced multiple votes on almost every one of Trump's picks, infuriating the president and tying up the Senate floor."

"The Senate voted 51-47 to confirm the four dozen nominees. Thune said that those confirmed on Thursday had all received bipartisan votes in committee, including deputy secretaries for the Departments of Defense, Interior, Energy and others. Among the confirmed are Jonathan Morrison, the new administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and Kimberly Guilfoyle as U.S. ambassador to Greece. Guilfoyle is a former California prosecutor and television news personality who led the fundraising for Trump's 2020 campaign and was once engaged to Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr."

The Senate confirmed 48 of President Trump's nominees in a single vote under new Republican rules that allow moving multiple lower-level, non-judicial nominations by simple majority. Republicans changed the process after Democrats repeatedly forced multiple votes on almost every nominee, which had tied up the Senate floor and frustrated the president. The confirmation vote was 51-47. Confirmed nominees included Jonathan Morrison for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Kimberly Guilfoyle as U.S. ambassador to Greece. The new rules do not apply to judicial nominations or high-level Cabinet posts. The changes follow years of gradual filibuster weakening and reciprocal obstruction by both parties.

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