Senate GOP Confirms 49 Trump Nominees, Including Bureau Of Land Management Chief
On Monday, May 18, 2026, the Senate confirmed 49 of President Donald Trump's nominees in a single batch, installing Stevan Pearce as Bureau of Land Management director and boosting GOP control of agencies.[1]
The slate also included 12 U.S. attorneys, multiple U.S. marshals and ambassadors.[1] The confirmations bring Trump's installed civilian nominees to roughly 60% of Senate-confirmed positions.[1] Republicans relied on last year's rules change that lowered the threshold for many nominations to a simple majority.[1]
Last year, Senate Republicans changed the chamber's rules to make many nominations confirmable by a simple majority.[1] That change let GOP leaders bundle dozens of nominees into single roll-call votes and speed confirmations that would once have needed 60 votes.[1] Senate Republicans are using the same leverage to push a $72 billion Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol package through the budget fast-track process, even after the parliamentarian removed some White House security funding.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On May 18, 2026, the Senate confirmed 49 Trump nominees in one batch.
- The confirmations bring Trump’s installed civilian nominees to roughly 60%.
- The slate included 12 U.S. attorneys, multiple U.S. marshals and ambassadors, and Stevan Pearce as Bureau of Land Management director.
- Republicans relied on last year's rules change lowering the threshold for many nominations to a simple majority.
- GOP senators are also advancing a $72 billion ICE and Border Patrol reconciliation package with some White House security funding already stripped by the parliamentarian.
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