Senate Republicans say they are considering the so-called nuclear option in order to speed up the confirmation of Trump-appointed judges. If employed, the nuclear option would allow Republican senators to confirm nominees with a simple majority rather than the usual 60 votes. Republicans now hold 53 seats in the Senate. Senator Mitch McConnell used the strategy in 2017 to confirm Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. Shortly after Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court last year, McConnell declared it was the biggest achievement of his career.