Before the lawmakers left for their August break, the Senate blocks Trump from making recess appointments until September.
This move required the agreement of every senator. What it means is that the Senate will be in session throughout the August recess every three business days.
On Thursday, the Senate left D.C. with the expectation of not returning until after Labor Day.
Per The Hill:
Senators were scheduled to be in town through next week, but staffers and senators predicted they would wrap up a few remaining agenda items and leave Washington early.
Trump isn't the first president to face the procedural roadblock from Congress.
The Senate has used the brief sessions to block recess appointments for decades, including last year to keep President Barack Obama from being able to fill a vacant Supreme Court seat.
But the current deal comes after Trump repeatedly lashed out at Attorney General Jeff Sessions, sparking speculation that he would fire the former senator and try to name his successor while Congress was out of town.
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) warned last month that Democrats had "tools in our toolbox" to block a recess appointment.
"We're ready to use every single one of them, any time, day or night. It's so vital to the future of the republic," he said.
A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said late last month that he didn't have any announcements on pro-forma sessions, but he noted that "if the Senate doesn't adjourn, typically pro forma sessions happen every three days."
The spokesman added on Friday that the Senate was holding the brief sessions because they didn't get a deal on adjourning, not specifically to block the president from making recess appointments.
"So to meet our constitutional requirement of meeting every few days, we’re doing pro formas. We didn’t do it to block Trump," the aide said.
Remember, Paul Ryan's 200 day plan will expire on August 7th. Nothing has happened, his promises failed.
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