Confirmation Awaited for UN Ambassador Nominee Mike Waltz

The Senate is poised to confirm former National Security Adviser Mike Waltz as President Trump’s nominee for UN Ambassador, but time is running short ahead of a high-level summit on Monday.

If Waltz, who previously served as a Congressman from Florida, isn’t confirmed by Congress before the session begins, his participation at the summit will be limited. Reports suggest he may still have some capacity to engage, though details remain uncertain.

A recent vote in the Senate on September 11 ended with a narrow 53-45 outcome, implementing new rules that could expedite the confirmation process for multiple candidates while bypassing extensive individual evaluations. Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune has advocated for a package of Trump nominees, using procedural adjustments to advance them.

However, Waltz’s nomination was notably absent from this package just days prior to the convening of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Meanwhile, the Senate recently confirmed a Federal Reserve appointment with a 50-44 vote on Monday night, enabling preparations for the Fed’s interest rate meeting beginning Tuesday.

A Senate GOP aide commented that candidate confirmations hinge on the priorities set by the White House.

While Waltz’s appointment initially gained support with a 12-10 vote from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in July, it faced setbacks this week. His nomination was again advanced on September 11 by an 11-10 vote, with only New Hampshire’s Senator Jeanne Shaheen voting against it, joined by Republican Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky.

When asked about the prospect of Waltz being confirmed by Monday, White House officials emphasized Trump’s intent for all nominees to be confirmed as promptly as possible.

A spokesperson from the State Department indicated that efforts are ongoing to facilitate Waltz’s confirmation in time for the UN General Assembly, while noting that he would still represent the U.S. at a State Department event in an informal capacity.

Republicans have criticized the delays in confirming candidates, attributing the holdups to democratic obstructionism, particularly ahead of the August recess.

After his removal as a national security advisor in May, Waltz was labeled as an advisor in a White House record and has been earning an annual salary of $195,000 as of July 1. He remains in limbo while awaiting his official confirmation as UN ambassador.

In a recent tweet, Waltz expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve under President Trump.

Interestingly, a mishap in March saw Waltz inadvertently adding Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg to a group chat discussing a potential military operation in Yemen.