Trump's Judicial Push Stalls as Federal Vacancies Run Dry — Only 26 Judges Confirmed in First Year of Second Term

By mid-January 2026, Trump's judicial confirmation push had confirmed only approximately 26 federal judges in his second term's first year, far below expectations. The slow pace was driven by a scarcity of vacancies — with just 34 district court vacancies nationwide as of Dec. 2025 — as Senate Democrats' blocking tactics from the Biden era had limited retirements. The Senate confirmed 19 judges through December 2025, with the pace accelerating slightly in early 2026.