From Senate Dem Whip. These pro forma sessions mean the Senate is never out of session for 10 days in a row = no Trump recess appointments. pic.twitter.com/PVDCpN3frA
— Ben Wikler (@benwikler) August 4, 2017
A Pro Forma session of the Senate is a couple of local Senators showing up, saying hi and then leaving. No work gets done. What is does is prevent the President from making recess appointments as the Senate will not be adjourned for a long enough period of time for the recess appointment power to be activated.
Pro Forma sessions have been commonly used when the Senate is controlled by the party opposite of the White House.
It is very odd that pro forma sessions are being used when the Senate and the White House are controlled by the same party.
This is what a slow split between the Republicans on the Hill and Trump looks like. It is incremental exertions of privilege and narrowing of option space. It is not (yet) grand gestures.