President Donald Trump has called on the Senate to move quickly to confirm 161 pending administration nominations, including 25 federal judges, in a post on Truth Social on Monday night.
"Very important for the U.S. Senate to confirm all of our pending 161 Nominations, including 25 Federal Judges. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Trump wrote.
The appeal comes after Democrats swept control of both the House and the Senate in the November 3 midterm elections, in what has been widely described as a historic blue wave. The new Congress takes office in January 2027, but Republicans retain control of both chambers during the outgoing Congress's remaining lame-duck session — the window in which Trump's nominees can still be confirmed by a Republican majority.
Under Article II of the U.S. Constitution, presidential nominations to cabinet posts, ambassadorships and the federal bench require the Senate's advice and consent before candidates can take office. Trump stressed the importance of filling the vacancies so federal agencies and the judiciary can operate at full capacity.
The push carries particular weight for the judiciary: federal judges serve lifetime appointments, so the 25 pending judicial nominees confirmed now would shape the courts long after the new Congress is seated. Trump retains the veto as a constitutional safeguard against Democratic legislation once Democrats take control.
