Mike Waltz's anticipated debut as President Donald Trump's U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is unlikely, as procedural delays have hindered his confirmation process. Waltz's nomination faced setbacks after Senate Democrats obstructed over two dozen of Trump's executive branch nominees, causing his paperwork to be returned to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He is scheduled for another committee vote on Wednesday, but it is improbable he will be confirmed by the full Senate before the high-level General Assembly meeting commencing on Monday.
Senator Jim Risch, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, criticized the ongoing blockade by Senate Democrats, stating it undermines bipartisan committee efforts and diminishes America's global standing. He expressed confidence that Waltz would be confirmed in the coming weeks, despite the current obstacles.
Waltz previously held the position of national security adviser for a brief period before his dismissal in May. This followed an incident where he inadvertently added a journalist to a secure chat for discussing sensitive military plans. Although he was removed from the post, Waltz asserts he was selected for the U.N. role and emphasizes that the chat met necessary cybersecurity standards. The Pentagon's inspector general is currently investigating the matter.
When the White House submitted Waltz's nomination for Senate confirmation, the U.N. ambassador position had already been vacant for almost six months, making it the final Cabinet role to be filled under Trump. This vacancy followed an earlier withdrawal of the previous nominee, Representative Elise Stefanik, whose departure was linked to concerns regarding the Republicans' House majority.
A Democratic congressional aide noted that the White House had exhibited “no urgency” in securing Waltz's confirmation ahead of the crucial U.N. gathering, where he would represent the U.S. alongside Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who concurrently serves as national security adviser.
A White House official indicated that Trump desires swift confirmation of his nominees, although the official did not provide comments regarding Waltz's specific situation. It is expected that Republicans will push for the confirmation of Waltz and over 25 other Trump nominees in one voting session on Wednesday, employing a strategy that aims to streamline the confirmation process following failed negotiations with Democrats.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune's maneuver to confirm multiple nominees at once reflects a broader trend of both political parties gradually weakening the filibuster and increasing partisanship in the nominations process over the past dozen years.
When Waltz does eventually gain confirmation, he will step into the role at a pivotal time for the U.N., which recently celebrated its 80th anniversary. The organization is grappling with consequences from Trump’s decision to reduce foreign assistance funding earlier this year, which has had significant adverse effects on its humanitarian aid agencies and foreshadowed further U.S. funding cuts to the U.N. budget.
During his confirmation hearing in July, Waltz commented on the rising revenue of the U.N. over the past 20 years, stating it has quadrupled, yet this increase has not correlated with enhanced global peace. He expressed a necessity for the U.S. to ensure that each foreign aid dollar and every contribution to international organizations, particularly the U.N., is directly linked to a compelling U.S. national interest.
