Katie Britt celebrates the confirmation of over 40 Trump nominees

September 20,2025 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a decisive move to break a months-long stalemate in the U.S. Senate, Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) announced the successful confirmation of 48 civilian nominees put forward by President Donald Trump. The confirmations mark a turning point in the 119th Congress, following what Britt and other Republicans have described as "unprecedented obstruction" by Senate Democrats.

The nominees-ranging from midlevel executive branch officials to ambassadors-were approved in a single vote after Senate Republicans enacted a controversial rules change allowing group consideration of presidential appointments. The maneuver, often referred to as the "nuclear option," bypassed traditional procedural hurdles that had stalled confirmations for months.

"Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats did everything they could to block President Trump's nominees from taking office and serving the American people," Britt said in a statement. "President Trump and Republicans were elected with a clear mandate last November to fix the mess left by the Biden-Harris Administration."

A Strategic Shift in Senate Procedure

Senator Britt played a key role in the negotiations that led to the rules change. As part of a working group convened by Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), Britt helped craft the procedural reforms that enabled Thursday's mass confirmation vote

"Their delay tactics on every single nominee was in fact a change in Senate rules and set a new, dangerous precedent," Britt said. "I knew we had to find a pathway forward to end this partisan obstruction."

The confirmed nominees include high-profile figures such as Kimberly Guilfoyle, appointed ambassador to Greece; Callista Gingrich, ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein; and Brandon Williams, undersecretary for nuclear security at the Department of Energy.

Historical Context and Political Implications

Britt has been vocal about what she sees as a pattern of obstruction by Senate Democrats, citing past delays during Republican administrations. Earlier this month, she addressed the House Republican Study Committee and delivered a Senate floor speech outlining the historical precedent for partisan gridlock over presidential nominees.

The rules change follows a series of similar moves in recent years. In 2013, Democrats lowered the confirmation threshold for executive branch nominees. Republicans followed suit in 2017 for Supreme Court picks and later reduced debate time for most other nominees.

While Democrats have criticized the latest maneuver as a power grab, Republicans argue it was necessary to ensure the federal government is fully staffed and responsive to voters' expectations.

Looking Ahead

Senator Britt emphasized that Thursday's vote is only the beginning. With hundreds of positions still unfilled, she pledged to continue working "around the clock" to confirm President Trump's remaining nominees.

"Today's confirmations are just the beginning-we will continue to work around the clock to confirm President Trump's nominees and make the Senate work again for the American people," she said.

Alabama's Lynda "Lindy" Blanchard has still not been confirmed by the Senate. Her nomination to serve as the U.S. Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture in Rome-with the rank of Ambassador-was reported favorably by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and placed on the Senate Executive Calendar back on July 16, 2025. She was not included in the group of 48 Trump nominees confirmed last night under the Senate's new expedited rules. Her confirmation vote is still pending and would require separate Senate action unless added to a future bloc. Blanchard served as the U.S. Ambassador to Slovenia during the previous Trump Administration.

As Alabama's junior senator, Britt's rising influence within the Republican conference signals a growing leadership role in shaping national policy and procedural reform. Her efforts to end the nominee blockade have positioned her as a key player in the Trump administration's push to implement its agenda swiftly and decisively.

(Brandon Moseley contributed to this report.)