But he's done now after being publicly chastised:
Shelby's decision to lift his wide-ranging hold means that the Senate can now vote on the nominees. As a result of the holds placed late last week, the Senate could not take action on the nominees unless it was is broken using a cloture vote that requires 60 senators or if the senator lifts the hold. ...
Shelby had placed the holds in protest of the administration's handling of defense and counterterrorism projects slated for his district. The White House had decried the Shelby's hold as "opposition for opposition's sake."
