Schumer supports Democrats delaying all Trump nominees who lack unanimous support

Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., filed cloture on John Ratcliffe's nomination for CIA director, Kristi Noem's nomination for Homeland Security secretary and Pete Hegseth's nomination for defense secretary on Tuesday. But a last-minute objection from Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., held up a vote on Ratcliffe, triggering hours of debate that could delay confirmation votes on Trump's national security nominees late into the week and possibly into the weekend.

"I don't think it's too much to ask to make sure that we have a full, real debate that lasts two days on the Senate floor," Murphy said on the Senate floor, adding that Democrats have "serious concerns" about Trump's CIA pick. 

The Senate voted to confirm Ratcliffe, 74-25, on Thursday afternoon. 

Asked on Thursday if he supports slowing the confirmation process for Trump's nominees down, Schumer indicated that he does.

"For a day or two, or a few hours to examine these nominees who have such power thoroughly, absolutely," he added. "Our idea is to let the whole truth come out if they try to rush them through. We don't want that to happen." 

Ratcliffe was approved by the Senate Intelligence Committee by a bipartisan vote of 14-3. Because of that, Thune said the vote to confirm him "shouldn't be hard."

"Democrats and Republicans, in a very big bipartisan fashion, agree that he is very qualified for this job," Thune said, adding that he isn't sure what stalling accomplishes.