Updated

Updated · The Daily Beast · Jun 29

Trump Leaves 268 Posts Unnamed as Republicans Warn 29 Court Vacancies Threaten Senate Control

Updated

Updated · The Daily Beast · Jun 29

Trump Leaves 268 Posts Unnamed as Republicans Warn 29 Court Vacancies Threaten Senate Control

Q: What is causing the gap between the number of judicial vacancies and nominees sent for confirmation?

The gap appears to stem mainly from a slow nomination-and-screening pipeline, not just empty seats waiting on floor votes. The White House has said it is still working to identify and send “qualified” judicial nominees, and Senate leaders have publicly urged the administration to submit more names. That suggests some vacancies remain unmatched because nominees have not yet been selected or formally transmitted to the Senate. Once names are sent, the process is also slowed by committee bottlenecks. Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley has said it has been difficult to gather enough members to vote on pending judicial nominees. Related reporting also points to practical screening delays, including incomplete background checks, missing financial disclosures, and the strain of handling many nominees at once. The Senate has recently sped up confirmations for many civilian executive posts by allowing noncontroversial nominees to be approved in large batches. But that shortcut does not apply to federal judges, who still require individual consideration and votes. That makes judicial vacancies harder to fill quickly even when the broader confirmation pace improves. So the short answer is that the vacancy-nominee gap is being driven by a combination of the administration not yet sending enough judicial names and the Senate’s slower, case-by-case vetting process for judges.

3 articles · Updated · The Daily Beast · Jun 29

268 of 824 Senate-confirmed posts being tracked still have no Trump nominee, deepening Republican fears that prolonged vacancies could weaken the party before the midterms.
29 federal judgeships are open, yet only 10 nominees were pending when the Senate left for a two-week recess; senators including Tommy Tuberville and Ted Cruz say time is running short.
HELP Committee bottlenecks add to the strain: Republicans say they have heard almost nothing about picks for Labor secretary and FDA commissioner, while Bill Cassidy's fraught relationship with Trump raises concerns over confirmations.
The White House says Trump is prioritizing the "right people" over speed and will send more names, but GOP leaders such as John Thune are pressing for permanent appointees instead of acting officials.
Trump can fill about 4,000 political jobs, including more than 1,300 requiring Senate confirmation; as of June 25, he had named 466 nominees, with 360 confirmed and 106 awaiting Senate action.