Are Senate Dems Using All Tools to Delay Trump's Agenda?
Senate procedure is complicated. Are Senate Democrats following the Indivisible guide's Resources on how they can slow Senate procedure until legal reviews are complete for DOGE's blitz into federal agencies?
Red = no, green = yes.
Weaponizing Quorum Calls? Not happening. (See: @aaronhuertas on Bsky)
Blocking Unanimous Consent? Not happening. (See: @andycraig and @SenateGabe on Bsky)
Voting no on every cloture vote? Not happening. (See: @aaronhuertas)
Voting nay on every nominee? Not happening. (See: @ezralevin and @leahgreenberg on Bsky)
The news is confusing, because some Democratic senators have said they would place blanket holds on some nominees:
- Murphy for Judiciary nominees, maybe Blumenthal too
- Schatz on State nominees
... but this tactic is not equivalent to objecting to all unanimous consent.
David Super, administrative law professor at Georgetown Law School, says that Musk and DOGE's actions are "so wildly illegal." Laura Dickinson, law professor at the George Washington University Law School, says DOGE's activities are likely illegal.
Some congressional Democrats have been using the terms "political crisis" (Rep. Jamie Raskin) or "constitutional crisis" (Murphy). At least a half-dozen federal agencies have internally warned the Trump administration that DOGE's actions are illegal, the Washington Post reported on Feb. 4.
