Senate Republicans on Thursday invoked the so-called “nuclear option” and changed the chamber’s rules to more easily confirm dozens of President Trump's stalled sub-Cabinet nominees.

The 53-43 party-line vote came after negotiations intensified earlier Wednesday on a bipartisan deal to speed the nominations, but it failed to get enough Democratic support and Republicans moved forward with the partisan rule change.

“This … has to be fixed,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), who was visibly frustrated on the floor. “We offered you a proposal that had your fingerprints on it. It wasn’t even your fingerprints, you initiated it.”

“It’s time to move. It’s time to quit stalling. … It’s time to fix this place,” Thune continued.

The move allows Republicans to confirm nominees “en bloc” and came after weeks of discussion aimed at breaking through a Democratic blockade of the nominations.

The "nuclear option," which allows the majority party to change the rules with a simple majority vote, is so called because it is seen as highly detrimental to bipartisanship. All told, the chamber needed four votes on Thursday to make the........

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