Axios: Why Trump is demanding recess appointments for his cabinet

[Dennis Donovan]

Axios - Why Trump is demanding recess appointments for his cabinet

Ivana Saric
16 mins ago
Politics & Policy

As President-elect Trump rolls out his cabinet picks, he has called on the Senate to allow for recess appointments — a process that would allow him to install officials without congressional approval.

Why it matters: By demanding recess appointments, Trump is asking the Senate to surrender its advise-and-consent role for cabinet confirmations, a key lever in the system of checks and balances against presidential power.

-Trump could use this power in an unprecedented way, potentially forcing Congress into a recess, then using it to make unilateral appointments, Charles Cameron, a professor of politics and public affairs at Princeton University, told Axios Thursday.
-Trump's "gambit would be a gigantic delivery of power to the President," the professor said.
-"This power transfer goes against senators' very DNA," he added.

Driving the news: Ahead of the Senate Republican leadership race, Trump laid out his demands on social media Sunday.

-"Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner," Trump wrote.
-"We need positions filled IMMEDIATELY!" he added.
-Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), who won the leadership election Wednesday, has already signaled an openness to recess appointments.

/snip

[notinkansas]

1. If John Thune is ready to walk away

from his duties as a Senator, he most certainly DOES NOT BELONG in that body. This is openly enabling 47's absolute worst instincts.

[Irish_Dem]

2. Trump wants all the power.

Will damage Congress and judicial departments.
And they will let him do it.

[underpants]

3. He also wants them to bow to him

He wants a public display of their obedience and fealty.

[Irish_Dem]

4. Exactly, he was groveling and kowtowing.

He is the new emperor.

[leftstreet]

5. Has a Dem POTUS ever done that?

[allegorical oracle]

9. If you're referring to recess appointments, the answer is yes. Heard this a.m. that Obama

used a recess appointment, but why wasn't clear. What was said is that recess appointments were/are considered emergency actions that occur if Congress has adjourned for scheduled recess (i.e. holidays) and a vacancy must be temporarily filled until Congress reconvenes. Once Congress returns, hearings and voting on a candidate is done.

Trump is tying himself into a knot trying to get unpopular candidates put in power. Recall in his first term how many people he placed in "acting" positions, which also are intended to be temporary. He selects risky people who fall short of eligibility for permanent positions.

[mn9driver]

6. It's unlikely that he could get these ludicrous picks approved

Even with a GOP Senate. They are incompetents, toadies, lickspittles and weirdos being proposed for extremely powerful and important positions. The GOP laughed and winked at some of his appointments last time: Interior, EPA, Education and others, but this time he wants direct and total control of the military, intelligence, and law enforcement arms of the US government.

That’s going to make even the GOPer/MAGAt Senators very nervous. If he gets that power things could go very bad, very fast.

[allegorical oracle]

10. Don't know if it's accurate, but heard it's possible that Dems can refuse to take a recess if

this becomes a frequent stunt.

[Wingus Dingus]

7. Because they're garbage nominees.

Imagine the negative exposure each time they have hearings.

[Hekate]

8. This is not new for Trump -- he often used recess appointments during his first term...

…bypassing Senate hearings/public scrutiny and removing the need for an oath of office as well.

It was all prologue — no surprises at all.