Voters Disapprove of Recess Appointments, Disagree With Trump’s Nominees’ Controversial Statements
By Rob Todaro and Lew Blank
Since winning the 2024 presidential election, President-elect Donald Trump has started rolling out his selections for his Cabinet. Nominees for Cabinet positions traditionally require confirmation from the U.S. Senate, given its “advise and consent” role stipulated by the Constitution. However, Trump has expressed interest in taking advantage of another clause in the Constitution that allows for “recess appointments,” which could allow him to avoid a formal confirmation process. As the Associated Press details, this process has not been used for top-level Cabinet positions in recent history, and the Supreme Court even ruled against President Barack Obama’s use of recess appointments for the National Labor Relations Board in 2014.
A new Data for Progress survey finds that a majority of voters (54%) “disapprove of recess appointments” and believe that “Donald Trump should not be able to appoint his Cabinet without confirmation from the Senate,” while 38% “approve of recess appointments” and think “Donald Trump should be able to appoint his Cabinet without confirmation from the Senate.” Notably, 60% of Independents disapprove of Trump making recess appointments.
The survey asked voters about a series of controversial statements and stances by Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and his nominee to lead the Department of Defense, Pete Hegseth.
Kennedy’s statements, which include several conspiracy theories and false claims, were met with strong disagreement from voters. More than 3 in 4 voters (77%) disagree that “chemicals in the drinking water are causing some children to become gay or transgender.” Additionally, 57% of voters disagree that HIV may not be the cause of AIDS.
Kennedy’s statements related to COVID-19 and vaccines in general are also unpopular. A majority of voters disagree that COVID-19 was ethnically targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people, and spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people (68%), that the coronavirus vaccine is the deadliest vaccine ever made (56%), and that vaccines cause autism (59%).
Hegseth has decried “wokeism” in the military, including diversity initiatives and inclusion for women and transgender personnel. Voters largely disagree with related statements.
A strong majority of voters disagree (70%) that women should not be allowed to serve in military combat roles, and a majority also disagree that transgender people should not be allowed to serve in military combat roles (56%).
Nearly half of voters (48%), including a majority of Independents (51%), disagree that the military should be purged of "woke" officials who support diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, while 37% agree that it should be.
The survey also presented voters with details about statements and actions related to Kennedy, Hegseth, and other Trump nominees. Across the board, after being provided with additional information, a majority of voters oppose each of these nominees.
Voters were informed that Kennedy has “spread various conspiracies about public health, including claiming that vaccines cause autism and accusing former NIH official Anthony Fauci of conspiring with Bill Gates and drug companies to sell COVID-19 vaccines. He has also supported eliminating large numbers of public health officials.” After learning this information, 50% of voters, including 51% of Independents, say they oppose Kennedy’s nomination, while 42% are supportive.
Voters were informed that Hegseth is an author and TV presenter, and has “supported pardoning military officials accused of war crimes and believes that women should not be allowed to serve in military combat roles.” Following this information, 54% of voters, including 57% of Independents, say they oppose Hegseth’s nomination, while 35% are supportive.
Voters were informed that Trump’s attorney general nominee, Matt Gaetz, has “been under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use,” and that he “resigned just days before the Ethics Committee was set to release a ‘highly critical’ report of Gaetz, according to reporting.” Following this information, 59% of voters, including 63% of Independents, say they oppose Gaetz’s nomination, while 31% are supportive.
Voters were informed that Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, has “made favorable comments about Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been accused of spreading pro-Russia propaganda, and has refused to call Syrian President Bashar al-Assad a war criminal.” Following this information, 53% of voters, including 55% of Independents, say they oppose Gabbard’s nomination, while 36% are supportive.
Voters were informed that Lee Zeldin, Trump’s nominee for administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, has “voted to cut EPA funding, eliminate an EPA program that evaluates the health and environmental hazards of chemicals, and prohibit the EPA from setting standards to reduce carbon pollution.” Following this information, 51% of voters, including 55% of Independents, say they oppose Zeldin’s nomination, while 36% are supportive.
This survey demonstrates that voters are largely opposed to Trump making recess appointments for his Cabinet, and generally opposed to several of his nominees after being presented with more information about these nominees’ past actions. A majority of voters particularly disagree with several controversial statements and stances made by Kennedy and Hegseth.
Rob Todaro (@RobTodaro) is the Communications Director at Data for Progress.
Lew Blank (@LewBlank) is a communications strategist at Data for Progress.