Donald Trump has returned to power, and the Senate is proving to be far more cooperative than in 2017.
Two of the president’s most debated nominees are on course for confirmation this week, marking the culmination of a three-week period in which over a dozen Trump Cabinet picks have been approved with nearly unanimous Republican backing.
This wave of successful confirmations underscores the Senate GOP’s determination to be seen as an ally rather than an obstacle to Trump’s administration this time around. It represents a significant departure from his first term, when he had to withdraw one Cabinet nominee early on and later saw a small group of Senate Republicans derail the party’s efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
“My goal was to make sure every one of President Trump’s nominees got confirmed,” stated Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) in a brief interview, emphasizing that Senate Republicans committed “to move ahead with speed, with urgency, and we’ve done just that.”
Among the major nominations, Tulsi Gabbard is set to be confirmed as director of national intelligence later this week, with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. likely to follow as secretary of Health and Human Services. This comes after the high-stakes confirmation of Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary late last month. Another contentious nominee, Kash Patel, Trump’s pick for FBI director, also appears to be on track for approval as long as Republicans remain unified.
Senators had signaled after Trump’s November victory that he would find a more compliant Republican conference, a shift fueled by the party’s MAGA transformation and an increased 53-seat Senate majority. So far, they have been significantly faster in confirming nominees than in 2017, having already approved 13 nominees in the same timeframe it took them to confirm just six during Trump’s first term.
Trump, in contrast to his frequent frustrations with the Senate during his first term, is now expressing satisfaction with its performance. Hosting most GOP senators at Mar-a-Lago on Friday, he praised them for being “really amazing.”
“The relationships are very good, and we don’t always agree on everything, but we get there,” Trump remarked.
While acknowledging that some senators needed to “study a little bit further” before backing certain nominees, Trump’s allies have employed various tactics to secure votes. The possibility of primary challenges, social-media campaigns led by Elon Musk, and private lobbying efforts from administration figures such as Vice President JD Vance and the nominees themselves have helped bring hesitant senators in line.
However, one nominee remains in jeopardy: former Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Trump’s pick for Labor Secretary, is facing resistance from some Republicans due to her relatively pro-union positions. Although Democrats could step in to support her, they are under growing pressure to oppose Trump’s nominees across the board.
Despite some internal disagreements, Senate GOP leaders have managed to advance Trump’s nominations on their own terms. While some Trump allies have advocated for aggressive tactics such as recess appointments, most Senate Republicans remain wary of that approach. Instead, leadership has focused on pushing through hours of floor debate, dedicating the Senate’s early weeks almost entirely to confirmations rather than legislative efforts.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has used threats of weekend votes to pressure Democrats into expediting the process. While this strategy has had some effect, Democrats have put up resistance, forcing a weekend session last month and staging an all-night protest last week against Russ Vought’s nomination as White House budget director.
The upcoming votes on Gabbard and Kennedy remain uncertain, as some Republican senators have yet to make their decisions. Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell is expected to oppose at least one, if not both, nominations, and Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska are being closely monitored.
Nevertheless, even if all three Republicans voted no, their opposition would not be enough to block either nomination. Collins has already committed to supporting Gabbard. A fourth Republican would need to join them, and Utah Sen. John Curtis has not yet indicated how he will vote.
Despite Democratic hopes for a last-minute upset, Republicans are increasingly confident in securing both confirmations.
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the top Democrat on the Finance Committee, which advanced Kennedy’s nomination last week along party lines, pledged to “pull out all the stops” to prevent Kennedy’s confirmation. “There are senators who I believe are going to vote no on the floor,” he said, signaling potential trouble for Kennedy’s approval.
Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination, however, remains the most uncertain. Several Republicans, skeptical of her pro-labor stance, have not committed their support. Initially, GOP strategists assumed she would attract enough Democratic votes to secure confirmation, given her past support for pro-worker policies. However, backlash over Musk’s aggressive advocacy for Trump’s nominees has complicated matters.
A Wednesday hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee will provide insights into Chavez-DeRemer’s standing. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the panel’s ranking member, recently stated that he remains undecided on how much Democratic support she will receive.
Thus far, Senate leaders, White House officials, and key figures like Vance and Trump have been remarkably successful in swaying hesitant Republicans.
For example, Thune and Barrasso personally engaged with Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) as he deliberated over Kennedy’s nomination. Cassidy’s support was crucial—without it, Kennedy’s confirmation would have been in serious jeopardy. Furthermore, opposition from Cassidy could have fueled discontent among Louisiana Republicans ahead of his reelection bid.
Gabbard also directly reached out to skeptical Republicans ahead of her committee vote, including Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.). Additionally, Barrasso and others lobbied Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), who ultimately announced his support for her just hours before the Senate Intelligence Committee’s closed-door vote.
According to a source familiar with these outreach efforts, the discussions were strategic rather than forceful. “What do you need to get to yes?” was the guiding question in these negotiations, ensuring senators felt heard rather than pressured.
This approach mirrors the strategy Republicans used to secure Hegseth’s razor-thin confirmation. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), a close ally of Thune and Trump, noted that Young’s handling of Gabbard’s nomination resembled how North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis approached Hegseth’s. Tillis, initially hesitant, ultimately voted in favor after concerted lobbying by Thune, Barrasso, Vance, and Trump.
The persuasion efforts appear to be paying off.
“There’s never any guarantees,” Thune acknowledged regarding Kennedy and Gabbard’s upcoming votes, “but we’re trending in the right direction.”