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Senate Pre-Recess Shutdown Jitters

What should have been a routine nominations agreement before the August recess has spiraled into a bitter standoff between Trump, Thune, and Schumer. Now the stage is set for a bruising fall showdown over confirmations, foreign aid, and government funding—with a shutdown increasingly likely.

John Thune, Chuck Schumer
In exchange for his help confirming nominees, Schumer demanded in negotiations with Senate Majority Leader John Thune that the White House unblock funding for foreign aid and health programs, and that even more nominees would be approved in October as long as the president didn’t send another rescissions package. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images
Leigh Ann Caldwell
August 4, 2025

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Late Saturday night, the Senate left until after Labor Day in dramatic fashion, after negotiations broke down over the confirming of Trump’s nominees and the president got on social media to tell Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to “GO TO HELL.” These aren’t just the usual partisan antics, though: When the Senate returns in September, Republicans will consider removing the confirmation requirement for lower-level nominees, reducing the hours of debate required before voting on a nomination, or allowing themselves to confirm nominees in blocks. (These confirmation rules have been changing since 2013, when Republicans blocked Obama’s nominees.)