How Trump and Speaker Johnson could force the Senate to adjourn, allow recess appointments

Some Capitol Hill Republicans are already starting to deliberate whether President-elect Trump has a constitutional pathway to adjourn Congress himself in order to clear any possible resistance to his Cabinet appointments.

Trump argued earlier this month in a post on Truth Social that "recess appointments" would enable his new administration "to get people confirmed in a timely manner."

The Constitution grants the president authority to appoint Cabinet officials when the Senate is out of session, a period of time known as "recess," bypassing the traditional Senate confirmation process.