On July 24, 2025, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted by a narrow 12–10 margin to advance Mike Waltz, retired Green Beret and former national security adviser under President Trump, as the nominee for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. The decision paves the way for a full Senate confirmation vote, where party leaders are weighing whether to delay the August recess to expedite outstanding nominations.
Ranking Democrat Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire broke with most of her party to support Waltz, but only after securing a $75 million foreign aid package for Haiti and Nigeria. The State Department agreed to release $50 million for Haiti and $25 million for Nigeria by the end of July in exchange for her vote—an arrangement confirmed by both Shaheen and Senator Jim Risch, the committee chair.
Shaheen acknowledged concerns about Waltz’s use of unclassified messaging apps for sensitive national security discussions, referring to the so-called “Signalgate” incident. Still, she emphasized Waltz’s potential to serve as a moderating force within an administration she views as leaning toward isolationism.
Waltz’s confirmation hearing on July 15 featured intense scrutiny from Democrats over the Signal scandal. In March, he had mistakenly added a prominent journalist to a private group chat where U.S. military operations were being discussed, prompting bipartisan questions about his judgment and information security practices. Senators including Chris Coons pressed Waltz for clarity on how he would handle classified matters moving forward.
In his defense, Waltz reiterated his commitment to transparency and reform, pledging to streamline U.N. operations, reduce bureaucratic waste, and more effectively use U.S. funding as leverage to advance American interests. He criticized what he called the politicization and inefficiency of the United Nations and signaled a tough stance on countering Chinese influence in global institutions.
With committee approval secured, attention now shifts to the full Senate. A floor vote has not yet been scheduled, but Republican Leader John Thune has indicated he may delay the upcoming August recess unless Democrats move quickly on Trump’s pending nominations. President Trump echoed that message on his social media platform, calling for the Senate to “stay in session until the job is done.”
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Some Democrats fear that rejecting Waltz could lead to a more polarizing nominee, such as former U.N. Ambassador Richard Grenell, which may weaken their negotiating leverage. The strategic calculus reflects a broader tension between advancing diplomatic appointments and maintaining influence over policy concessions.
Waltz, who was nominated on May 1, previously served in the U.S. House representing Florida’s 6th congressional district and as a national security adviser in Trump’s second administration. His congressional record included outspoken criticism of the Chinese Communist Party and advocacy for a strong U.S. military footprint overseas. Though removed from his White House post following the Signal controversy, he remained a trusted Trump adviser and was promptly nominated for the U.N. position.
His confirmation would likely signal a shift toward more assertive, America-first diplomacy at the United Nations, with greater emphasis on fiscal discipline and skepticism toward multilateralism. Shaheen’s vote and the accompanying aid deal illustrate how foreign policy priorities can be leveraged to secure political concessions in a divided Congress.
With rising global tensions and a presidential administration intent on reshaping U.S. diplomacy, the outcome of Waltz’s confirmation could influence not just the direction of U.N. engagement, but the broader posture of U.S. foreign policy in the coming years.
