Democrats Rush to Confirm Biden Picks as Year-End Deadline Looms

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is employing a two-pronged strategy to confirm more of President Joe Biden’s nominees before the end of the year, when many will have to be returned to the White House and renominated. He’s under increasing pressure to overcome the blockade Republicans have mounted on dozens of key defense and foreign policy positions, as well as noncontroversial positions, that are essential to the president carrying out his policy goals. If he doesn’t, the Senate and White House must start anew on a long list of stalled picks for federal agencies and the judiciary. In some cases, Sen Schumer is readying for time-consuming floor debate and votes to fill priority posts. With others, he’s begun quietly negotiating deals to help Republicans attain legislative goals in exchange for letting nominees go through quickly. Sen Schumer kicks off the effort Dec 7 with votes on Biden’s picks for the Federal Communications Commission, National Mediation Board, and US Customs and Border Protection. Behind them are over 100 other nominees, including several for the federal courts.