Trump’s pressure to ease nominee backlog forces Senate into rare weekend session

Published August 2, 2025 6:00am ET



Senators are forgoing the first days of a monthlong August recess to grind out confirmations for President Donald Trump’s civilian nominees who have faced what the GOP calls “unprecedented” obstruction by Democrats.

Pressure from Trump, coupled with procedural delay tactics by Democrats, has complicated the upper chamber’s ability to embark on its extended break. Lawmakers plan to use the time for family, campaigning, and selling the president’s signature tax law, which has faced lackluster approval ratings.

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