The Hitchhiker’s Guide to a probable weekend session to confirm Trump nominees
As we approach the fourth weekend of 2025, the Senate is facing delays in confirming President Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees. This could lead to weekend Senate sessions as Senate Republicans aim to expedite the confirmation process for some nominees.
One key term to understand in this process is “cloture.” Senate Majority Leader John Thune has filed cloture to break filibusters on three nominees, starting with CIA Director nominee John Ratcliffe. Cloture is a parliamentary procedure used to end a filibuster and move forward with the confirmation process.
A filibuster is a tactic used by senators to delay or block legislative action. In this case, Democrats are digging in on the Ratcliffe nomination, prompting Thune to file cloture to overcome the filibuster. Once cloture is filed, it must “ripen” for a day before the Senate can consider it. This sets the stage for a vote to break the filibuster on Thursday.
If the Senate successfully breaks the filibuster on Ratcliffe, a confirmation vote could follow shortly after. The process would then move on to the nomination of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, with a potential tiebreaking vote from Vice President JD Vance if needed.
The confirmation process could extend into late Friday or early Saturday, depending on the timing of votes and debates. The Senate must also consider nominees for Secretary of Homeland Security and Treasury Secretary, potentially leading to further weekend sessions.
Senate Majority Leader Thune is facing his first major test in leading the Senate through these confirmation battles. Democrats are pushing back against Trump’s nominees, while Thune is working to demonstrate his leadership and commitment to advancing the President’s agenda.
As the Senate prepares for a weekend of lengthy sessions and potential late-night votes, the confirmation of Trump’s nominees is likely to proceed, albeit with some delays. Both sides are standing firm in their positions, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown in the coming days.
