President Obama announced recess appointments of four officials Thursday, marking the third time he installed nominees during a congressional recess while blaming Republican obstruction for the move.
"At a time when our nation faces so many pressing challenges, I urge members of the Senate to stop playing politics with our highly qualified nominees, and fulfill their responsibilities of advice and consent," he said. "Until they do, I reserve the right to act within my authority to do what is best for the American people."
Obama appointed Maria del Carmen Aponte as ambassador to El Salvador. Her nomination was held up by Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., and other senators. The other recess appointees were Winslow Sargeant as chief counsel for advocacy at the Small Business Administration, Richard Sorian as Health and Human Services assistant secretary for public affairs and Elisabeth Hagen as the Agriculture Department's undersecretary for food safety. The White House said the nominees "have waited an average of 303 days for Senate confirmation."
A GOP aide noted none of the nominations were on the Senate calendar. The bulk of the delays came in committees controlled by Democrats. The approved nominees were less controversial than Obama's prior recess appointments, which included Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services chief Donald Berwick and National Labor Relations Board member Craig Becker, who drew vocal GOP opposition.
By naming just four nominees, Obama left a large number of nominations pending on the Senate calendar.