President Trump complained Thursday that Democrats were delaying approval of his nominations and discouraging “hopefully great” people from working in the government, as he pushed for the Senate to confirm secretary of state nominee Mike Pompeo.
“Democrats are obstructing good (hopefully great) people wanting to give up a big portion of their life to work for our Government, hence, the American People. They are ‘slow walking’ all of my nominations – hundreds of people,” Trump tweeted. “At this rate it would take 9 years for all approvals!”
“…Hopefully the Senate will not leave Washington until our Ambassadors, Judges and the people who make Washington work are approved,” he said in a separate tweet. “The Democrats are Obstructing the process and we need these people approved for the good of our Country!”
Democrats are obstructing good (hopefully great) people wanting to give up a big portion of their life to work for our Government, hence, the American People. They are “slow walking” all of my nominations – hundreds of people. At this rate it would take 9 years for all approvals!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 19, 2018
…Hopefully the Senate will not leave Washington until our Ambassadors, Judges and the people who make Washington work are approved. The Democrats are Obstructing the process and we need these people approved for the good of our Country!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 19, 2018
Trump specifically named Pompeo, his CIA director, and urged the Senate to confirm him as soon as possible.
“Mike Pompeo is outstanding. First in his class at West Point. A top student at Harvard Law School,” Trump tweeted. “A success at whatever he has done. We need the Senate to approve Mike ASAP. He will be a great Secretary of State!”
Mike Pompeo is outstanding. First in his class at West Point. A top student at Harvard Law School. A success at whatever he has done. We need the Senate to approve Mike ASAP. He will be a great Secretary of State!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 19, 2018
The comments come as Senate Republicans are growing irritated at Democrats for stalling Trump’s nominees in the judicial and executive branches.
The Washington Examiner reported earlier this month that there is a growing appetite among some GOP senators to change Senate rules to expedite the process.
For example, Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., is in favor of reinstating a temporary rules change from Democrats in 2013 that cut down debate time to eight hours rather than 30 hours for most executive branch nominees, and two hours rather than 30 hours for lower judicial branch nominees.
On average, Trump’s nominees have taken a total of 84 days to be approved by the Senate, while the process for former President Barack Obama’s nominees took an average of 65 days. Nominees from former President George W. Bush only took approximately 43 days, according to the Partnership for Public Service.
Trump nominated Pompeo for secretary of state last month after he fired former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
