Western South Dakota News

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune participated in an interview with Maria Bartiromo on Fox News. The discussion centered around the confirmation of President Trump's nominees and their role in implementing his agenda.

Thune emphasized the importance of confirming nominees to leadership positions within departments and agencies, stating, "Well, we need them in place, Maria. I think, as you know, in order to implement that agenda, you’ve got to have new leadership in those departments and agencies." He highlighted the significance of national security positions amid global challenges and issues at the southern border. Thune mentioned specific nominations such as Governor Noem for DHS and others queued for confirmation.

Regarding the timing of confirmation votes, Thune noted progress compared to previous administrations: "Well, actually, we’re ahead of schedule. We’re going back to what is the Obama standard." He contrasted this with former President Trump's experience in 2017 when it took 43 days for his first 12 Cabinet nominees to be confirmed. Thune explained that while Senate rules allow for delays by the minority party, efforts are being made to expedite the process: "We’re going to keep moving aggressively... forcing people to stay and to take votes on weekends."

The conversation underscored ongoing efforts by Senate Republicans to confirm President Trump's nominees efficiently.