Senate Majority Leader John Thune is preparing to invoke the “nuclear option” to accelerate the confirmation of over 100 stalled nominees appointed by former President Donald Trump, according to reports. The move could occur as early as Monday and involves altering Senate rules to bypass a 60-vote threshold for confirmations, reducing delays caused by Democratic opposition.

The strategy aims to counter Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s efforts to block the process, which has stalled appointments for seven months. Thune has warned since July that Republicans would implement this tactic if Democrats refused to expedite nominations. A senior Republican aide confirmed the plan to the Daily Caller News Foundation, citing a working group of GOP senators that proposed reforms allowing simultaneous confirmations of lower-level executive branch nominees.

The potential rules change, modeled partly on a 2023 Democratic proposal by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, could permit grouping multiple nominees for voting at once, though specifics remain unclear. Schumer has actively opposed Trump’s appointments since the president’s inauguration, directing his caucus to reject nearly all nominations. The move marks a significant shift in Senate procedures, with implications for future legislative efforts.