MNI: More Data Needed Before Hike - BOJ Minutes

MNI BRIEF: Aussie Q4 Trimmed CPI At 0.5% Q/Q

MNI BRIEF: RBNZ's Conway Sees Neutral At 2.5-3.5%

MNI INTERVIEW2: New NBH Chief Must Clarify Reaction Function

MNI BRIEF: U.S. Senate Confirms Bessent as Treasury Secretary

MNI NBH WATCH: Base Rate To Hold At 6.5% Despite Price Uptick

MNI: AUSTRALIA MONTHLY DEC CPI 0.2% MM, 2.5% YY

MNI:AUSTRALIA Q4 CPI +0.3% Q/Q

EZ/UK T-Bill Calendar: Greece, Italy Auction on Wednesday

MNI EXCLUSIVE: EU-Mercosur Deal Close, But Likely Short-Lived - Officials

AUSTRALIA: 2025 Election Outcome Looking More Uncertain According To Newspoll

© 1982-2025 MNI. All rights reserved.
Terms | Privacy
Log Out
Free Trial

US: Slim House Majority Could Impact Trump's Ability To Use Recess Appointment

US
USHomepagemarkets-real-timePolitical Risk BulletBulletMarketsFixed Income BulletsForeign Exchange BulletsNorth America

House Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-LA) razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives could derail President-elect Donald Trump prospects of using 'recess appointment' to confirm his executive branch nominees without majority Senate support. 

  • A recess appointment is a procedural loophole via which a president can confirm nominees while both chambers of Congress are recessed for an extended period. Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama all used the manoeuvre, although not for high-level cabinet positions like Defense Secretary or Attorney General, such as Trump may pursue.
  • As the procedure would require the House of Representatives to pass an adjournment resolution to initiate the process, success will depend on near-total support from House Republicans. Currently, Republicans control 219 seats to Democrats’ 213, with five races uncalled. If those races go as expected, Johnson is likely to have a two-to-three-vote majority to play with when passing legislation.
  • Considering the level of scrutiny over allegations levelled at Defense Sec nominee Pete Hegseth and AG nominee Matt Gaetz, this majority is unlikely to be sufficiently robust to pass the chamber.
  • Trump's more likely route to confirming his nominees is via the Senate, where he can drop three votes. While several of Trump's nominees would unlikely pass a hypothetical secret ballot confirmation process, the public nature of the vote will make dissent politically damaging for individual senators. Politico has published a list of the senators who may vote down Trump's nominees here, although none are yet on the record as 'noes' to any nominee. 
250 words

To read the full story

Close

Why MNI

MNI is the leading provider

of intelligence and analysis on the Global Fixed Income, Foreign Exchange and Energy markets. We use an innovative combination of real-time analysis, deep fundamental research and journalism to provide unique and actionable insights for traders and investors. Our "All signal, no noise" approach drives an intelligence service that is succinct and timely, which is highly regarded by our time constrained client base.

Our Head Office is in London with offices in Chicago, Washington and Beijing, as well as an on the ground presence in other major financial centres across the world.

House Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-LA) razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives could derail President-elect Donald Trump prospects of using 'recess appointment' to confirm his executive branch nominees without majority Senate support. 

  • A recess appointment is a procedural loophole via which a president can confirm nominees while both chambers of Congress are recessed for an extended period. Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama all used the manoeuvre, although not for high-level cabinet positions like Defense Secretary or Attorney General, such as Trump may pursue.
  • As the procedure would require the House of Representatives to pass an adjournment resolution to initiate the process, success will depend on near-total support from House Republicans. Currently, Republicans control 219 seats to Democrats’ 213, with five races uncalled. If those races go as expected, Johnson is likely to have a two-to-three-vote majority to play with when passing legislation.
  • Considering the level of scrutiny over allegations levelled at Defense Sec nominee Pete Hegseth and AG nominee Matt Gaetz, this majority is unlikely to be sufficiently robust to pass the chamber.
  • Trump's more likely route to confirming his nominees is via the Senate, where he can drop three votes. While several of Trump's nominees would unlikely pass a hypothetical secret ballot confirmation process, the public nature of the vote will make dissent politically damaging for individual senators. Politico has published a list of the senators who may vote down Trump's nominees here, although none are yet on the record as 'noes' to any nominee.