Senate awaits Trump judges
Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) are ready to start cranking out a new class of conservative judges — but they're waiting on the White House to send them some nominees.
Why it matters: Compared to President Biden four years ago — and Trump in 2017 — Republicans will be slower to start on judicial confirmations. As his whirlwind second term approaches its 100-day mark, Trump has yet to nominate a single federal judge.
Trump is expected to start making judicial picks in the coming days or weeks, according to sources familiar with his plans.
Still, by this point in Trump 1.0, Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch had already been confirmed, and the first Trump federal judge was in the pipeline for a May approval, according to Senate records.
What to watch: Grassley has had ongoing conversations with White House officials letting them know he's ready to move when they are, according to sources familiar with the talks.
White House spokesperson Liz Huston told Axios that "nominating courageous, constitutionalist judges to the federal bench is more critical than ever" and signaled nominations were in the works.
"President Trump has already reviewed a slate of well-qualified judicial nominees and further announcements will be made in due time," Huston said.
Zoom out: Trump and his allies have long railed against a justice system they view as unfair toward conservatives, with frequent rants against district judges and their ability to block executive actions nationwide.
In a new escalation, the FBI arrested a Wisconsin judge Friday, and she was charged in federal court with allegedly helping an unauthorized immigrant evade ICE.
Even though he's got the power again to nominate GOP-friendly judges to fill lifetime appointments across the country, he's yet to send any picks to the Hill.
Zoom in: At this point in 2021, the first batch of Biden judges had been sent to the Senate — and seven were confirmed in June.
After receiving a nominee, the Judiciary Committee must wait 28 days before moving forward.
That effectively means any slate of Trump nominees could not start getting floor votes before June.
By the numbers: There are 46 judicial vacancies for Trump to fill, compared to over 100 at the start of his first term.
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) made judges a top priority when he was leader. He worked with Trump and a network of conservative groups to push through 234 judges — including three Supreme Court justices — in four years.
Then-Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) broke the Trump-McConnell record in late December when he and the Democrats confirmed their 235th judge.
Now it's Thune's turn, although Schumer's record will be almost impossible to beat unless a wave of retirements washes over the courts.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
11 minutes ago
- Business Insider
Trump voters with student loans are having 'buyer's remorse' over his latest debt collection moves
Tracy Davis, 42, still thinks that voting for President Donald Trump was a good choice. But she wishes the president would think more carefully about how his actions are affecting student-loan borrowers like herself. "I did vote for Trump," Davis told Business Insider. "This was a very big surprise for me. I mean, I was thinking he was going to fix some things, and it didn't go the way I was seeing it going with student loans." Davis is referring to the Trump administration's move to restart collections on defaulted student loans in early May after a five-year pause. Negative credit reporting for defaulted student loans resumed in October 2024, and Trump's Education Department announced that collections would resume in an effort to restore accountability to the student-loan system. "Borrowing money and failing to pay it back isn't a victimless offense," Linda McMahon, Trump's education secretary, wrote in an opinion piece. "Debt doesn't go away; it gets transferred to others. If borrowers don't pay their debts to the government, taxpayers do." Prior to the pandemic pause, Davis said she was able to make her $150 student-loan payments. However, once the pause lifted, she was billed nearly $400, which she said she could not afford. It caused her to fall behind on payments, and her credit score took a hit after negative credit reporting resumed. "I think they pulled the trigger a little too fast, especially with hitting the credit report, because we're not all in the same situation," Davis said. "I just wish there was more thought put into it." Business Insider has heard from dozens of student-loan borrowers who are delinquent or in default on their debt, including some who voted for Trump. Borrowers tend to go into default after 270 days of missed payments. While many borrowers expressed frustration with the abrupt collections restart and the consequences for defaulting, like negative credit reporting and wage garnishment, some said they recognize the importance of restarting the system and ensuring borrowers pay back their loans. Ellen Keast, a spokesperson for the Department of Education, previously confirmed to BI that Social Security garnishment for defaulted borrowers is paused: "The Trump Administration is committed to protecting social security recipients who oftentimes rely on a fixed income." However, the department still plans to garnish wages for defaulted borrowers later this summer. Davis is concerned that she might be on the receiving end of that policy. "If you were way behind and you had no intention of paying them back, yes, go after them, garnish wages," Davis said. "But when you're trying to make it and you're trying to honestly make an effort to pay them off, I don't think that's right that we're getting wages garnished or credit hits." 'Buyer's remorse' Miranda Metheny, 37, is in default on her student loans — and she's rethinking the vote she cast for Trump. "I'm having a bit of buyer's remorse," Metheny said. "Now, seeing what all is taking place, I'm like, maybe I just shouldn't have voted." Metheny is unable to work due to a disability, and she can't afford to dig into the $600 monthly disability insurance to pay off her student loans while also helping support her two children. "We already don't make enough to really even survive at this point," Metheny said. "We're all robbing Peter to pay Paul, and now you're going to cut into that? I worry about people that are already hurting." The Department of Education estimated that 5 million borrowers are currently in default. Recent data from the New York Federal Reserve showed that millions more could enter default this summer; since negative credit reporting resumed in the fall, 8.04% of balances moved into serious delinquency in the first quarter of 2025. While some higher education analysts previously told BI that the surge in delinquency was expected, many borrowers are at risk of defaulting because they might not be aware of their payment status and are unprepared to afford an extra monthly bill. Some student-loan borrowers at risk of default said they still support Trump's move to collect on defaulted student loans. Cheri, 67, said that she voted for Trump and supports his stance that loans should be paid back. She hasn't made any payments on her loans since the pandemic pause, though, and she said she's not financially prepared to shoulder another monthly bill. "I'm not going to bash the Trump administration. But that being said, I think that turning people over to collections is a very drastic move after what we just went through over the past four years," Cheri said. "I'm opposed to that." Aside from collections on defaulted student loans, the Trump administration is urging Congress to pass the president's big spending bill. The version of the bill that passed the House would condense existing income-driven repayment plans into two plans that have longer repayment periods. McMahon wrote in a June 11 post on X that the bill "will prevent future Democrat administrations from illegally transferring student loan debt to American taxpayers." Former President Joe Biden's SAVE plan — an income-driven repayment plan that would have allowed for cheaper monthly payments — is also blocked in court, leaving borrowers with fewer repayment options. As far as default consequences go, Sen. Elizabeth Warren said that McMahon confirmed in a private meeting on June 10 that Social Security garnishments will remain paused. "The Education Secretary has assured me that the pause that is currently in place will stay in place and if there is to be any change in that, she would get in touch with me directly before we go there," Warren said. Metheny said she hopes that the administration will consider more relief for borrowers. "We're not all billionaires," she said. "We can't just come up with that amount of money that quickly." Are you in default, or concerned about defaulting, on your student loans? Share your story with this reporter at asheffey@
Hamilton Spectator
12 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
The Latest: Death toll grows as Israel and Iran trade attacks for third day
The death toll is growing as Israel and Iran exchanged missile attacks for a third consecutive day on Sunday, and Israel is warning that worse is to come. Israel targeted Iran's Defense Ministry headquarters in Tehran and sites it alleged were associated with Iran's nuclear program, while Iranian missiles evaded Israeli air defenses and slammed into buildings deep inside Israel. The region braced for a drawn-out conflict after Israel's strikes hit nuclear and military facilities, killing several senior generals and top nuclear scientists. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump also had a warning for Tehran, saying it can expect 'the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces' if it retaliates against the United States. Trump insisted that Washington had nothing to do with Israel's attack on Iran. Israel launched its attacks after weeks of escalating tensions between Israel and Iran over Iran's nuclear program. Iran announced Thursday that it planned to activate a third nuclear enrichment facility shortly after the U.N. nuclear watchdog censured Iran for failing to comply with nonproliferation obligations . ___ Here's the latest: Death toll grows in Israel At least 10 people in Israel were killed in Iranian strikes overnight and into Sunday, according to Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service, bringing the country's total death toll to 13. At least six people, including two children, were killed when a missile hit an apartment building in Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv. Daniel Hadad, a local police commander, said 180 people were wounded and seven are still missing. An Associated Press reporter saw streets lined with damaged and destroyed buildings, bombed out cars and shards of glass. Responders used a drone at points to look for survivors. Some people could be seen leaving the area with suitcases. Four people were killed when a missile struck a building in the northern Israeli town of Tamra, and another 24 were wounded. A strike on the central city of Rehovot wounded 42 people. Explosions in Tehran New explosions echoed across Tehran and were reported elsewhere in the country early Sunday, but there was no update to a death toll put out the day before by Iran's U.N. ambassador, who said 78 people had been killed and more than 320 wounded. Semiofficial Iranian news agencies reported that an Israeli drone strike had caused a 'strong explosion' at an Iranian natural-gas processing plant, in what could be the first Israeli attack on Iran's oil and natural gas industry. Israel's military did not immediately comment. World leaders are issuing urgent calls to deescalate. But Israeli's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel's strikes so far are 'nothing compared to what they will feel under the sway of our forces in the coming days.' Trump warns Tehran not to target U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. had 'nothing to do with the attack on Iran' and warned Tehran against targeting U.S. interests in retaliation. 'If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before. However, we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict!!!' Trump wrote on Truth Social late Saturday. Nuclear talks called off Planned talks on Iran's nuclear program, which could provide an off-ramp, have been called off. The Arab Gulf country of Oman, which has been mediating indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran over Tehran's nuclear program, said a sixth round planned for Sunday would not take place. Iran's top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, said Saturday that the nuclear talks were 'unjustifiable' after Israel's strikes, which he said were the 'result of the direct support by Washington.' Iran has always said its nuclear program was peaceful, and the U.S. and others have assessed it has not pursued a weapon since 2003. But it has enriched ever larger stockpiles of uranium to near weapons-grade levels in recent years and was believed to have been able to develop multiple weapons within months if it chose to do so. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
13 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Macron to visit Greenland to show European support for the strategic Arctic island coveted by Trump
NUUK, Greenland (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron's first trip to Greenland, the strategic Arctic island coveted by U.S. President Donald Trump, is aimed at shoring up Europe's political backing for Denmark and its semiautonomous territory. Macron's visit on Sunday comes just ahead a meeting of the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations next week in Canada that will be attended by both Macron and Trump. The French president's office said the trip to Greenland is a reminder that Paris supports principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders as enshrined in the U.N. charter. Macron is also to meet with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen . Macron mentioned Greenland last week in his opening speech at the U.N. Ocean Conference, saying it isn't 'up for grabs' in remarks that appeared directed largely at Trump. 'The deep seas are not for sale, nor is Greenland up for grabs, nor are the Arctic or the high seas for sale, nor are fishing licenses in developing countries up for grabs, nor are scientific data and the security of coastal populations to be sacrificed,″ Macron said at the summit in Nice, France. Macron's role in Europe Macron in recent months has sought to reinvigorate France's role as the diplomatic and economic heavyweight of the 27-nation European Union. The French president has positioned himself as a leader in Europe amid Trump's threats to pull support from Ukraine as it fights against Russia's invasion. Macron hosted a summit in Paris with other European heads of state to discuss Kyiv, as well as security issues on the continent. Sunday's visit will also be the occasion to discuss how to further enhance relations between the EU and Greenland when it comes to economic development, low-carbon energy transition and critical minerals. The leaders will also have exchanges on efforts to curb global warming, according to Macron's office. A meeting between Macron, Frederiksen and Nielsen will take place on a Danish helicopter carrier, showing France's concerns over security issues in the region, Macron's office said. Trump and Greenland Last week, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared to acknowledge that the Pentagon has developed plans to take over Greenland and Panama by force if necessary but refused to answer repeated questions during a hotly combative congressional hearing Thursday about his use of Signal chats to discuss military operations . Hegseth's comments were the latest controversial remarks made by a member of the Trump administration about the Arctic island. The president himself has said he won't rule out military force to take over Greenland, which he considers vital to American security in the high north. The Wall Street Journal last month reported that several high-ranking officials under the U.S. director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, had directed intelligence agency heads to learn more about Greenland's independence movement and sentiment about U.S. resource extraction there. Nielsen in April said that U.S. statements about the island have been disrespectful and that Greenland 'will never, ever be a piece of property that can be bought by just anyone.' ___ Corbet reported from Paris. Associated Press writer Stefanie Dazio in Berlin contributed to this report. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
