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President Donald Trump on Saturday urged Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) to cancel the chamber’s traditional August recess and continue working through the summer to confirm his growing list of judicial and executive nominees.
“Hopefully the very talented John Thune, fresh off our many victories over the past two weeks and, indeed, 6 months, will cancel August recess (and long weekends!), in order to get my incredible nominees confirmed,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “We need them badly!!!”
The president’s call comes as the Senate is scheduled to vote Monday on six of his appointments and to advance his nominee to head the Drug Enforcement Administration. But unless the schedule changes, lawmakers are set to leave Washington for the entire month of August—a long-standing break that has drawn scrutiny in the past during high-stakes political fights.
Pressure Mounts as Controversial Nominees Advance
Trump’s appeal to the Senate follows several late-night legislative sessions and recent partisan showdowns. With a backlog of unconfirmed nominees, the president appears determined to use momentum from recent wins to push through some of his most controversial appointments.
Among the most high-profile is Emil Bove, a Justice Department attorney nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals. Bove is facing resistance from Democrats following a whistleblower allegation that he encouraged the Trump administration to ignore federal court orders related to deportations. He has denied the accusation.
Also drawing attention is Jeanine Pirro, a former Fox News host and longtime Trump ally, nominated to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. Pirro’s nomination has sparked criticism from civil rights groups and Democrats, who argue her partisan media career raises questions about her impartiality.
Labor Board Paralysis and Nominee Urgency
Trump has also nominated two new members to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which has been inoperable since January when the president dismissed its last Democratic member. Without a quorum, the board cannot enforce or interpret key labor laws.
The pressure to restore functionality to the NLRB adds urgency to Trump’s request. The board oversees union activity and employer-employee disputes, and its absence has halted several pending cases.
“The American workforce is stuck in limbo,” said a senior White House official. “We can’t afford to let union disputes or labor policy grind to a halt just because the Senate wants a vacation.”
Thune Faces Political Crosswinds
Sen. Thune, who took over as majority leader after Sen. Mitch McConnell stepped down, has not publicly responded to Trump’s Truth Social post. But political observers say he is now caught between the expectations of a president who demands loyalty and Senate colleagues who are eager for a break after a grueling legislative stretch.
Thune has generally aligned with Trump’s judicial agenda, helping usher in over a dozen confirmations this year, but the decision to cancel recess could fracture fragile unity within the Republican caucus.
“If Majority Leader Thune goes along with this, it’s going to mean a lot of sleepless nights for senators who were ready to hit the campaign trail or take a breather,” said Molly Reynolds, a congressional expert at the Brookings Institution.
Looking Ahead
It remains unclear whether Thune will heed the president’s request. Some Republican senators have privately expressed reluctance to stay in Washington throughout August, while others argue that confirming judges and restoring federal agencies like the NLRB is essential heading into the fall.
For now, the Senate is on track to confirm six appointees Monday, but any official changes to the August calendar could come as early as next week. If Trump’s pressure campaign succeeds, the upper chamber could be in for a long, hot summer.
