Cruz, Schumer remain at impasse over Biden nominees, Nord Stream 2 sanctions

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Democratic majority leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) are in a political standoff over confirmation votes for several of President Biden's nominees.

For months now, Cruz has been holding up votes on nominees to the Biden administration's departments of State, Treasury, and USAID to secure leverage to force a vote on Nord Stream 2 pipeline sanctions. 

Over the summer, Cruz told CNN he looked forward to lifting the nominee holds "just as soon as [Senate Democrats] impose the sanctions on Nord Stream 2 that are required by federal law." 

Nord Stream 2 is a natural gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany that is raising concerns that the Kremlin's power over Europe and its energy market will increase when the twin pipeline is completed and working.

Cruz and the Senate leader have reportedly been trading offers this week, but it remains unclear how close they are to a deal.

"We've been working over the past day to secure lift on many of these holds," Schumer told The Hill newspaper. "I want to echo what Senator Menendez made clear, if the senator from Texas offers a proposal that does not include lifting all State, Treasury, USAID nominees, we cannot come to an agreement." 

Cruz, on Wednesday, responded to Schumer's ultimatum by saying, "If he maintains that position, then Chuck Schumer can be the cause of all of Biden's ambassadorial nominees to expire this year."

It was previously reported that Cruz had offered to move forward with a double digit number of nominees, including officials headed to all the agencies Schumer listed, but it is unclear if the offer was acceptable to Democrats.