Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Republicans’ Attempt To Advance Dangerously Unqualified Nominees In “Trojan Horse” Package

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor slamming Senate Republicans for attempting to advance a “Trojan horse” nominee package filled with unqualified and radical Trump-picked nominees. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Today, Senate Republicans will try to move forward with a Trojan horse of a nominee package, confirming in one fell swoop a slew of horribly unqualified, shockingly radical nominees. All year long, Senate Republicans have bent the knee to Donald Trump, giving him every nominee he’s asked for, no matter how unqualified, no matter how unfit they are, no matter how bad this nominee package is. It's much different than any nominee package we've seen.

Democrats oppose these people, as you'll see in a minute, because they're just totally unqualified to be in the important positions he's trying to place them in. No wonder the Republicans didn't want to have votes on these people and didn't want to have discussions, because when the American people learn who they are, they're aghast that these types of people would be appointed. So, yes, Democrats want votes. We want at least an hour or two of discussions to fill these important positions.

Leader Thune said we're just doing this for partisan, political reasons. Here's what he said, exactly: “Democrats must be doing one of two things,” Thune said. “Either the president has been nominating historically bad nominees, or Democrats are simply being partisan.” Well, Leader Thune, it’s obvious that Donald Trump is nominating historically bad nominees. That's why we're doing this. I mean, there are so many. I could spend hours on the floor talking about them. But let me mention a few. And when you hear what's going on, America, you'll be aghast.

Look at the nomination of Sarah Bailey to serve as Director of National Drug Control Policy. They're trying to sneak this one through, of course, because they would be afraid of a discussion or a vote or who she is coming to light. Ms. Bailey has no background in medicine, no background in public health, no background in law enforcement. She is so radical, Ms. Bailey is, that even Fox News’s news shows banned her. But you know what she does have going for her? Why was she nominated for an important position with no experience? She said the January 6th rioters were “good Americans.” That was her ticket to getting this job. All you have to do is tell Donald Trump he was right about January 6th, even though he was so obviously wrong and it was dangerous in what he did then. But all you have to do is tell him, oh, they were good Americans, and that's good enough for Donald Trump. And now Senate Republicans have gone down to his level and it's good enough for them.

Republicans are also trying to sneak people through like Anthony D’Esposito to serve as Inspector General—the watchdog—of the Department of Labor. This is a former member of the House who put his mistress on his congressional payroll and has faced a slew of misconduct allegations as a police officer. This is not anyone’s definition of a good watchdog—unless you are Senate Republicans. Someone who faced misconduct allegations and put his mistress on payroll is now the watchdog of the Department of Labor? Give me a break. Of course they want to hide these nominees. They're embarrassed about them. They know Donald Trump has the lowest standards of any president that we've ever seen for qualifications for important positions.

There’s also John Bartram, whom Republicans want to appoint as Under Secretary for Health at the Department of Veterans Affairs. What is his claim to fame? He was instrumental in firing VA staff, tearing up VA contracts, and politicizing VA research.

That’s just three. There are so many more that are just appalling. We Democrats, of course, want to see votes on these nominees. We don't want to allow them to just be all voted yes in a big package so their lack of qualification, their lack of honor, their lack of honesty, and their past records can be hidden. But Republicans are ashamed of who they have to vote for. They should vote against these nominees. But they're afraid of Donald Trump.

It is very clear what Republicans are doing: they’re trying to pull a fast one on the American people and sneak through an entire hen-house of bad nominees without giving them the scrutiny the American people demand.

And, you know, when you choose bad nominees, you pay a price. Trump picked Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense. He had no qualifications to be Secretary of Defense. The only way he got through was by arm-twisting from Republicans that knew he shouldn't be in that position. And now Trump and the administration and Senate Republicans who voted for him are paying a price because it's so obvious he's screwing up left and right. So, when you put in these bad nominees, and either sneak them through or bludgeon them through, the administration and the American people pay a very significant price.

This nominee package is a perfect symbol of what this majority has been about from day one: bowing to Donald Trump, rubber-stamping his unqualified loyalists, and chipping away at the Senate’s role as a check on an abusive executive.

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