Cramer Holds Trump Nominees Over Wetland Rule
North Dakota senator blocks confirmations to pressure the administration to eliminate a Biden-era rule on Fish and Wildlife Service wetland easements.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in People
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Sen. Kevin Cramer continues to block confirmation of Trump nominees over a Fish and Wildlife Service wetland easement rule. He has lifted some holds, including on Labor Secretary nominee Keith Sonderling and HHS deputy secretary nominee Chris Klomp.
Why it matters
Cramer says the Biden-era wetland easement rule harms North Dakota property owners, and his holds leave the administration's nominees waiting on the Senate floor. Senate Republicans plan to confirm nominees before leaving for the holidays in mid-December.
Cramer has been lifting holds incrementally based on progress he sees from the administration, with no final resolution on the wetland rule yet. Senate Republicans aim to confirm nominees before mid-December, but the outcome depends on whether the administration moves on the rule.
The players
Kevin Cramer
Republican U.S. senator from North Dakota who is blocking Trump nominees over the wetland easement rule.
Brian Nesvik
Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who visited North Dakota in October.
The details
Cramer is blocking confirmation of any and all Trump nominees to press the administration to eliminate a Biden-era rule on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wetland easements. FWS Director Brian Nesvik visited North Dakota in October, after which Cramer said he would lift more holds.
Timeline
October 2026: FWS Director Brian Nesvik visits North Dakota, and Cramer says he will lift more holds.
Mid-December 2026: Senate Republicans plan to confirm nominees before leaving for the holidays.
Legacy Rules
Cramer's hold ties the confirmation of Trump nominees to the fate of a Biden-era wetland easement rule, using Senate procedure as leverage over regulatory policy. The dispute shows how a single rule from one administration can become a bargaining point in the next administration's nomination fights.
North Dakota property owners could see changes to wetland easement rules if the administration acts on Cramer's demand. The outcome will determine how federal wetland protections apply to land in the state.
The takeaway
Senate holds can stall a broad set of nominees over a single policy dispute, so watch whether the administration moves on the wetland rule before mid-December.
What happens next
Senate Republicans plan to confirm nominees before leaving for the holidays in mid-December 2026.
Further reading
Explore more People coverage to see how figures like Sen. Cramer shape the policy debates in North Dakota.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Mighty 790 KFGO | KFGO.
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