Senate Confirmation Process Slows to a Crawl

In November 2024, the Partnership for Public Service published an updated version of this report with new data and improved methods for calculations that is available here.

 

Data from the Partnership for Public Service found that Senate confirmation of presidential appointees are taking longer than ever.

Why it Matters

A major presidential responsibility is to fill more than 1,200 political appointments requiring Senate confirmation. Few decisions have a greater impact on the success of an administration than the selection of its people. A president must not only select well-qualified appointees, but work with relevant federal agencies and the Senate to get appointees in place quickly. This is especially crucial for a president beginning their first term, or transitioning to a second term, as year five usually coincides with a turnover of more than 40% in senior leadership positions. 

Download