Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House (R-La.), has not ruled out the possibility of allowing President-elect Trump to appoint his Cabinet through recess appointments, a process that would avoid Senate approval.
When questioned about the support for recess appointments, Johnson responded, “We’ll evaluate that at the appropriate time, and we’ll make the appropriate decision. There may be a function for that; we’ll have to see how it plays out,” during an appearance on “Fox News Sunday.”
Talk of recess appointments has gained traction following Trump’s controversial Cabinet picks, such as former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Tulsi Gabbard, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who have raised concerns in Washington.
Johnson signals support for recess appointments if Senate delays arise
It remains uncertain whether these nominees would gain sufficient backing in the Senate, where Republicans will hold 53 seats. Under the Constitution, Trump could make recess appointments if Congress adjourns both chambers for at least 10 days.
However, since no chamber can adjourn for more than three days without the other’s consent, the House — and by extension, its Speaker — has a say in whether this strategy would be possible.
Johnson suggested that he could support recess appointments if Trump’s nominees face delays in the Senate. “I believe in the principle of the president being able to choose his team, and that used to not be a controversial notion,” Johnson remarked.
He noted the current partisan environment, lamenting the lack of cooperation in Washington, and emphasized the importance of the Senate fulfilling its advisory role. Johnson stressed, however, that failure to act could be damaging to the country: “If this thing bogs down, it would be a great detriment to the country, to the American people,” he said, highlighting the “America First” mandate delivered by voters in the election.
Responding to criticism of recess appointments, Johnson expressed understanding of concerns that such a move could be viewed as unconstitutional and undermine presidential checks on power. “I’ve demonstrated over and over that we will have fidelity to our oath, which is to uphold the Constitution. So we evaluate all these things very carefully,” Johnson added.
For recess appointments to occur, the House must consent to adjourn long enough to allow Trump to make the appointments. Earlier in the month, Trump urged senators vying for the Senate GOP leadership position to support the possibility of using recess appointments for his Cabinet selections.
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), who won the race for Senate GOP leader, indicated last week that adjourning the Senate for 10 days to facilitate recess appointments could be “an option.” However, he cautioned that there might not be enough Republican support to make this plan a reality.
