SHUTDOWN / 10 DAYS OF DARKNESS / RECESS APPOINTMENTS Could Q be referring to this specific government shutdown? If congress fails to have a pro forma session every 3 days during this recess / shutdown Trump will be able to make Recess Appointments.   In the past two years, congress has blocked Trump from making appointments with the use of pro forma sessions.  Any appointments made during this time will not expire until the end of the session 2019. If Trump is allowed to make recess appointments during the next couple of days this will undoubtedly cause a major upset from the Left  This would allow for the appointment of individuals that would have no chance of getting confirmed. Just an observation Past history of recess appointments. Article II, Section 2, Clause 3, commonly known as the Recess Appointment Clause, provides that, Presidents since George Washington have made recess appointments.    Almost every president has used recess appointments to appoint judges, over 300 such judicial recess appointments before 2000, including ten Supreme Court justices. Ronald Reagan made 240 recess appointments. President Bill Clinton made 139 recess appointments. President George W. Bush made 171 recess appointments. President Barack Obama made 32 recess appointments.