In a significant push before the congressional recess, the Senate confirmed 74 of President Donald Trump’s nominees on Friday. This major stride was made possible due to a change in Senate rules last year, allowing for a more streamlined process in confirming lower-level nominees.

The voting session, which saw a close 51-47 tally, resulted in the approval of several key positions across various departments including Defense, Energy, and State. Notably confirmed were David Cummins as the new head of the Transportation Security Administration and Cameron Hamilton to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The list also included Hal Duncan as the deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Francis Brooke as the deputy secretary of the Treasury.

Among the newly confirmed officials are also several ambassadors, with former Representative David Brat being appointed as the ambassador to Australia. This group of confirmations is part of a larger effort by Senate Republicans to fill numerous governmental roles before the five-week break.

This batch of confirmations was facilitated by a procedural adjustment made by Senate Republicans last year, which allows the confirmation of lower-level nominees as a group rather than requiring individual votes for each. This has significantly expedited the confirmation process.

After concluding this expedited procedure, Senate Republicans now believe only a handful of civilian nominees remain unconfirmed. This development marks a substantial decrease in the backlog of appointments, which had been a point of contention and delay in the Senate.

As the Senate adjourns for its scheduled recess, the confirmation of these nominees ensures that key positions within the federal government are filled, potentially enabling smoother operations across various departments. This move also reflects the ongoing efforts by Senate Republicans to support President Trump’s administration in securing its appointees across the government spectrum.