Thune starts Senate rule change to fast-track Trump nominees

Senate Republicans took the first step on Monday to invoke the so-called “nuclear” option to change chamber rules and allow dozens of President Donald Trump’s pending nominees to be swiftly confirmed en bloc.

Although nominees are already approved with a simple majority and are not subject to the 60-vote filibuster, they require individual and time-consuming votes due to Democratic opposition. Each can often take days to confirm, an arduous process Republicans say requires an overhaul in the face of “unprecedented” roadblocks from Democrats.