Washington — President Donald Trump is threatening to use what he says is his constitutional authority to adjourn both chambers of Congress to clear the way for recess appointments to his administration.

In his daily address on the coronavirus, Trump said lawmakers have made it difficult to run the federal government, saying “every week, they put up roadblocks.” He says that the current practice of conducting “phony, pro-forma” sessions of Congress so that he can’t make recess appointments is a dereliction of duty that the American people cannot afford during the coronavirus crisis.

He complains that some of his nominees have waited years for approval, though previous presidents have leveled similar complaints.

President Trump: "The Senate should either fulfill its duty and vote on my nominees or it should formally adjourn so that I can make recess appointments... if the House will not agree to that adjournment I will exercise my constitutional authority to adjourn both chambers..." pic.twitter.com/jR7yd8xEnG — CSPAN (@cspan) April 15, 2020

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS:

Manufacturing activity plummets to record low in New York thanks to coronavirus

NY orders nursing homes to report coronavirus cases, deaths to residents’ families

Understanding NY’s coronavirus masks-for-all rule: What we know, what we don’t

How does New York’s economy restart? Here’s Cuomo’s blueprint