Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) is expanding his efforts to hold up President Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nominees in response to the Senate’s move to revoke his state’s electric vehicle mandate.
Previously, Padilla issued a hold on four EPA nominees, but he is now issuing a blanket hold on any EPA nominee. Three additional nominees were not covered by Padilla’s original hold: those chosen to manage solid waste, international and tribal affairs, and enforcement and compliance assurance.
Padilla’s move expands the hold to cover Jeffrey Hall, who would lead enforcement of environmental law; Usha-Maria Turner, who would lead international and tribal affairs; and John Busterud, who would lead the agency’s office of solid waste.
Other appointees already impacted by the initial hold are Trump’s pick for the No. 2 role at the agency, leaders of its air and water offices, and its chief financial officer.
“The Senate’s constitutional role to Advise and Consent regarding executive branch nominations is an important check on agency leadership’s abuse and overreach, and raising these objections regarding EPA nominations is my duty on behalf of the people of the State of California,” Padilla wrote.
The hold may not ultimately block the EPA nominees from being confirmed, but it will slow the process, requiring the chamber to spend hours debating and taking additional votes for each nominee.
With a handful of nominees, holds are more of an annoyance, though in some cases — like when in 2023 Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) put holds on hundreds of military promotions — they have successfully delayed nominations for a significant period.
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