Senate votes on 60 nominees at once, hiding individual votes from public view
S.Res. 520 — An executive resolution authorizing the en bloc consideration in Executive Session of certain nominations on the Executive Calendar. · Filed by John Thune (R-SD) · Introduced Dec 1, 2025
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What it does
This Senate resolution allows the Senate to vote on 60 executive branch and judicial nominations all at once (en bloc) in a closed executive session, rather than debating and voting on each individually. The nominees include cabinet officials, federal judges, U.S. Attorneys, agency heads, and ambassadors across departments from Defense to Labor to State.
Why we flagged it
This is a procedural resolution that streamlines Senate confirmation votes by bundling 60 nominations for simultaneous consideration rather than individual debate and voting. It is not substantive policy but a mechanism for expediting executive appointments.
What the text implies
- Senators cannot vote against individual nominees without voting against the entire slate, eliminating granular accountability for controversial picks.
- Executive session (closed-door) voting prevents real-time public observation and media reporting on how each senator votes on specific nominees.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who it affects
En bloc consideration speeds confirmation but reduces individual scrutiny of each nominee. Citizens benefit from faster government staffing but lose transparency and the ability to track how their senators voted on specific controversial nominees.