The U.S. Senate on Tuesday voted 53–46 to advance the nomination of Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe to serve as a federal judge for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, moving her one step closer to confirmation. The vote represents another development in the effort to fill vacancies across the federal judiciary.
Former President Donald Trump, who nominated Moe, praised her following the Senate vote in a post on his Truth Social platform. He highlighted her experience in Florida’s courts and said she has demonstrated a strong commitment to serving the state’s residents. Moe has been a judge on Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal since 2022 and previously served nearly a decade as a circuit judge in Florida’s Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, which covers Hillsborough County. Earlier in her career, she worked as an assistant state attorney in Tampa, where she gained experience in criminal prosecution.
Her advancement comes as judicial appointments remain a significant focus in Washington, particularly during ongoing political tensions surrounding the federal government shutdown. Lawmakers continue to debate federal spending legislation required to keep government agencies operating, with disagreements centering on funding priorities and policy provisions tied to healthcare subsidies.
Despite the political standoff, recent polling analysis suggests the shutdown may not be significantly affecting public opinion. According to CNN data analyst Harry Enten, current surveys show that Trump’s approval rating has remained largely stable during the crisis, even showing a slight increase in some polls. Enten also noted that fewer Americans appear to place responsibility for the shutdown on Trump compared with the 2018–2019 shutdown, when a majority of respondents blamed him for the impasse.
The shutdown stems from disagreements in Congress over a federal spending bill. Democrats have said they will oppose funding legislation that does not extend Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire later this year, while Republicans have not yet agreed to those conditions. Because Republicans hold only narrow majorities, passing a temporary funding measure would likely require some Democratic support in the Senate, meaning negotiations between the parties remain critical to ending the standoff.
