President Donald Trump is calling on Senate Majority Leader John Thune, from South Dakota, to cancel the chamber’s upcoming August recess and other scheduled breaks in order to fast-track the confirmation of his pending nominees.
In a post on Truth Social Saturday evening, the president pressed the Senate to act with urgency. “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 wrote. “We need them badly!!!”
The current Senate calendar sets a month-long recess from August 4 to September 1, with additional breaks slated for late September and early October, as well as others tied to federal holidays, writes The Washington Examiner. Trump’s demand to eliminate these pauses—especially the traditional August adjournment—comes as his administration seeks to accelerate its agenda during a critical stretch of legislative activity.
Over the past several weeks, both chambers of Congress have moved swiftly to advance key components of Trump’s second-term priorities. These include passage of what Trump hailed as a “big, beautiful bill,” a $9 billion rescission package inspired by DOGE, and a suite of cryptocurrency-related measures. Yet despite the momentum, the Senate’s pace in confirming Trump’s nominees—particularly judicial picks—has lagged behind that of his first term.
Only on Monday did the Senate confirm the first judicial nominee of Trump’s second term, leaving numerous vacancies still unfilled. For Trump, the delay poses a threat to the execution of his domestic policy and legal agenda.
The president’s public appeal signals his desire to avoid bureaucratic drift and capitalize on GOP majorities while they last. With a crowded legislative calendar and several key positions still vacant, Trump’s call to stay in session is as much a political challenge as a procedural one: a demand that his party align behind him with the urgency he expects.
[Read More: Trump Files Mega Lawsuit Against Wall Street Journal]
