To allow Trump to make the appointments, Republican senators would have to pass a motion of adjournment with a simple majority vote, though Democrats would likely do everything in their power to prevent it. It is also not clear if such a move would be fully supported by GOP senators.

Most cabinet-level positions require Senate confirmation, while senior posts at the White House don’t. Here are Trump’s picks for top positions. Trump has also created less traditional “czar” positions to oversee broader policy areas,

The Trump administration is beginning to take shape.

Trump is laying down a gauntlet even before taking office challenging the Senate, in particular, to dare defy him over the nominations of Matt Gaetz, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other controversial choices for his Cabinet and administration positions.