Harry Reid made a momentous decision in 2013 when he was the Senate’s majority leader and chose to deploy the so-called “nuclear option.” By doing so, he ensured that with a simple-majority vote and the collaboration of the upper chamber’s parliamentarian, he could deprive the minority of the ability to block controversial executive branch nominees.

As a result, no amount of Democratic partisanship alone will be sufficient to sink President-elect Trump’s Cabinet nominations. Thanks to Reid, no matter how much Democrats rail against the choice of Oklahoma attorney general Scott Pruitt to be administrator of the EPA, he will surely be confirmed.