President Donald Trump deserves to begin his second term surrounded by the team he believes can best help him carry out the responsibilities of his office. The U.S. Senate also plays a key role in honoring the wishes of the electorate and allowing Trump to take control of the government.

Senators should act swiftly to confirm the president’s Cabinet nominees and allow the administration to begin tackling the challenges ahead.

Senators have had two-and-a-half months to consider Trump’s nominees. Confirmation is part of their constitutional duty, to give “advice and consent” — and it’s necessary to get the country moving.

They could have begun confirmation even before Inauguration Day.

We see positive signs in the approval of former Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., as secretary of state and the confirmation of former director of National Intelligence, now-director of the CIA, John Ratcliffe.

Pete Hegseth was approved as Secretary of Defense on Friday evening and Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota was confirmed for secretary of Homeland Security on Saturday. That’s progress.

But even though Republicans control the Senate, they have not been able to speed up the process to vote on nominees. Instead, after cloture has been invoked, Senate Democrats have played games with procedural maneuvers to draw the process out. Dates to vote on the rest of Trump’s nominees, ambassadors and other appointees have not been set.

Similar tactics allowed confirmations to linger until April 2017 during Trump’s first term and after former President Joe Biden was inaugurated in 2021.

That kind of slow walking is unacceptable. For the most part, these are qualified nominees and Democrats shouldn’t be held up as part of a resistance to Trump’s presidency. He was elected; senators must deal with it. Not giving him the assistance he needs to run the government is unbecoming of the most consequential legislative body in the world.

Trump is responsible for the outcome of his administration. It is in his best interest to ensure competent individuals are in key positions.

These nominees may not be Democrats’ first choice, but they didn’t win the White House. Trump did, and he has earned the right during his one term to get to work as quickly as possible.

Without conscientious objections from senators or barring a true threat to the well-being of the nation, these confirmations should be moved forward so the real work in Washington can begin.

That includes confirming hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, a former Al Gore supporter and employee of George Soros, who served as an economic adviser on Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and has raised some Republican eyebrows, for secretary of Treasury.

And also former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi, for attorney general, who replaced Trump’s initial pick of Congressman Matt Gaetz. Bondi is experienced and accomplished and passed through her hearing with flying colors.

Approval should be easy for former Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota for secretary of the Interior, who was an impressive candidate for president himself.

Others, however, including Health Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Commerce nominee Howard Lutnick and Secretary of Labor nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer, haven’t even had a date set for their confirmation hearings.

That’s inexcusable. Democrats aren’t going to wait Trump out. Even if he withdrew some of his nominees, they’re not likely to find the replacements any more appealing.

The Senate must stop the games and give Trump’s nominees a swift vote, and unless they find egregious reasons they are unfit to serve, approve them.

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