President Donald Trump is angry again about a Senate rule that is stopping some of his picks from getting their jobs. The problem is with something called the “blue slip” rule. This old custom lets senators from each state block people Trump wants to make district court judges and U.S. attorneys.
Right now, Trump has eight people he wants to make U.S. attorneys, but they cannot get approved because of this rule, as per The Hill. Trump is upset that Democrats are using it to stop his Republican choices in several big states.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that the blue slip rule is “stupid and outdated.” He said his picks are really good people who should get these jobs. Trump blamed Democratic senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee for talking Chair Chuck Grassley into keeping this old rule going. Grassley is a Republican from Iowa. Trump said these great people have had their careers hurt badly by the rule and called it a shame.
Nobody Really Talks About Blue Slips But They Matter A Lot
The blue slip rule has been around in the Senate for a really long time. Here is how it works. When a president picks someone to be a U.S. attorney or district court judge, the Judiciary Committee chair waits for the okay from both senators from that state. The senators show they agree by sending back blue-slip papers. If even one senator says no and does not return the slip, the person cannot get the job.
This is not the first time Trump has gotten mad about this rule. Back in August, he said his right under the Constitution to pick judges and attorneys has been totally taken away in states that have at least one Democratic senator. Trump has been loud about many people he thinks are working against him, including those he recently said should face charges in court.
Grassley stood by his choice to follow the blue slip custom. He said that people without a blue slip do not have enough votes to get approved on the Senate floor or even get out of committee. The Iowa senator said he sets Trump’s picks up to win, not to lose.
Some of the blocked people include Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York and Erin Creegan for New Hampshire. Both of these states have Democratic senators who can use the blue slip rule.
Things got even messier in July when Trump had to pull back Alina Habba’s name for U.S. attorney in New Jersey. She used to be his lawyer, but Democratic Senators Andy Kim and Cory Booker did not want her for the job. Trump’s team then tried to let her keep doing the job without Senate approval, but a federal judge said in August that she was doing the job illegally as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor.
Published: Oct 17, 2025 09:49 am