Republicans in the U.S. Senate on Thursday rammed a change in one of the chamber's long-standing rules that will allow faster and easier confirmations of President Donald Trump's executive-branch nominees.

The lawmakers voted 51-49 to table the measure, with hardline Republican Senators Josh Hawley and Rand Paul joining Democrats. US Senate Republicans narrowly turned away a surprise effort on Wednesday by Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer to force a vote on a measure ordering the Trump administration to release its files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.