SCOOP: The numbers behind Senate Democrats' historic anti-Trump obstruction

The Democratic Party’s base wants elected Democrats to fight President Donald Trump — but new numbers suggest that Senate Democrats in particular are waging a historic, yet entirely unsuccessful, battle against the Trump administration.

Despite the Senate’s rapid confirmation of most of Trump’s cabinet picks, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) and Senate Democrats are holding up as many of Trump’s civilian nominees as possible.

As of the end of July 2025, Trump has not had a single civilian nominee confirmed by either voice vote or by unanimous consent during his second term. This stands in marked contrast with both Trump’s first term, in which 65 percent were confirmed by voice vote or via unanimous consent, and with President Joe Biden’s only term in office, in which 57 percent were confirmed by one of the two processes.

Ryan Wrasse, the communications director for Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R., S.D.), explained that “Democrats have created a new and dangerous precedent when it comes to obstructing executive nominees. They’ve gone as far as blocking voice votes on bipartisan nominees who have ultimately received as many as 83 votes on the Senate floor.”

The Democrats have also forced the Senate to hold cloture votes on 99.08 percent of Trump’s confirmed civilian nominees, including 22 of whom received over 60 Senate votes.

Obstruction by Democrats is “just a fact,” Thune said. However, it hasn’t stopped him from confirming more than double the number of civilian nominees that Senate Republicans confirmed through a similar juncture in Trump’s first term.

Thune’s wins have put Democrats in a bind — even when they do fight, they lose.

As of July 31:

President Biden had 49 civilian nominees confirmed via voice vote in 2021.

(U.S. Congress: President Joe Biden Nominations 2021-2024 – accessed 7/31/25)

President Trump had 5 civilian nominees confirmed via voice vote in 2017.

U.S. Congress: President Donald Trump Nominations 2017-2020 – accessed 7/31/25)

President Obama had 217 civilian nominees confirmed via voice vote in 2009.

(U.S. Congress: President Barack Obama Nominations 2009-2012 – accessed 7/31/25)

President George W. Bush had 193 civilian nominees confirmed via voice vote in 2001.

(U.S. Congress: President George W. Bush Nominations 2001-2004 – accessed 7/31/25)

President Clinton had 229 civilian nominees confirmed via voice vote or unanimous consent in 1993.

(U.S. Congress: President Bill Clinton Nominations 1993-1996 – accessed 7/31/25)

President George H.W. Bush had 151 civilian nominees confirmed via voice vote or unanimous consent in 1989.

(U.S. Congress: President George H.W. Bush Nominations 1989-1993 – accessed 7/31/25)