Confirmation process for Elise Stefanik for ambassador to the United Nations

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Trump Administration
(second term)
Donald Trump • J.D. Vance
Administration: Donald Trump's Cabinet • Confirmation process for Cabinet nominees • Confirmation votes by senator • Executive orders and actions • Key legislation • Vetoes • White House staff • Ambassadors • Special envoys • Multistate lawsuits • Supreme Court emergency orders
Transition: Transition • What happens during a presidential transition? • Certification of electoral votes • 2024 presidential election
First term: Transition • Confirmation process for Cabinet nominees • Cabinet • Administration

President-elect Donald Trump (R) announced U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) as his nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations on November 11, 2024. This presidential appointment would have required Senate confirmation.

On March 27, Trump withdrew Stefanik's nomination. In a statement Trump said, "With a very tight Majority, I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat. The people love Elise and, with her, we have nothing to worry about come Election Day. There are others that can do a good job at the United Nations. Therefore, Elise will stay in Congress, rejoin the House Leadership Team, and continue to fight for our amazing American People."[1]

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a confirmation hearing for Stefanik on January 21, 2025.[2] Click here to read more about the confirmation process.

Click here to read more about the confirmation process for Trump's U.S. ambassador to the United Nations in his second presidential term.

This page includes the following information about the confirmation process:

Confirmation process

See also: Confirmation process for Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees, 2025

Senate confirmation hearing

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a confirmation hearing for Stefanik on January 21, 2025.[3]

Elise Stefanik's Senate confirmation hearing, January 21, 2025

History of withdrawn Cabinet nominations

Elise Stefanik's withdrawal from consideration as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations was the second of Trump's initial Cabinet nominees to withdraw. The first was Matt Gaetz, who withdrew from consideration as U.S. attorney general in November 2024.

Trump's 2025 presidential transition was the seventh presidential transition in a row where a president had at least one nominee withdrawn or rejected by the U.S. Senate before the end of their second month in office.

Joe Biden (D) withdrew one nominee, Neera Tanden for administrator of the Office of Management and Budget. Tanden's nomination was announced on November 30, 2020, and withdrawn on March 2, 2021, after Senate committee hearings.[4][5]

George H.W. Bush (R), Bill Clinton (D), George W. Bush (R), and Trump, during his first term, each also had one nomination withdrawn or rejected before the end of their second month in office, while Barack Obama (D) had three in this timeframe.[6]

According to the Center for Presidential Transition, "most unsuccessful nominees are withdrawn prior to a Senate vote when it becomes apparent there is not enough support for confirmation. Administrations typically anticipate a candidate cannot win in the Senate and withdraw the nomination before a failed vote takes place. In fact, only one Cabinet nominee has been rejected in a Senate floor vote in the last 60 years – George H. W. Bush’s nominee for secretary of Defense, John Tower, in 1989." Of the seven nominations withdrawn towards the start of a presidential transition since 2001, Gaetz's withdrawal from consideration is the fourth nomination withdrawn before the Senate officially received the nomination.[6]

About the nominee

Elise Stefanik was born in Albany, New York, in 1984.[7] She earned a bachelor's degree in government from Harvard University in 2006.[8] She worked as an aide to former President George W. Bush (R) from 2006 to 2009, and was the director of 2012 vice presidential debate preparations for Paul Ryan (R).[9] She also managed sales and marketing for her family’s business, Premium Plywood Products.[10]


About the confirmation process

See also: Appointment confirmation process

The confirmation process includes several rounds of investigation and review, beginning with the submission of a personal financial disclosure report and a background check. The nominee is then evaluated in a committee hearing, which allows for a close examination of the nominee and his or her views on public policy. Supporters and opponents of the nominee may also testify.[11]

Once committee hearings are closed, most committees have a set amount of time before a vote is taken on whether the nominee is reported to the Senate favorably, unfavorably, or without recommendation. The nomination will then go to the Senate floor for consideration. Once the nomination is considered by the Senate, unlimited debate is allowed until a majority of the Senate votes to invoke cloture and close debate. Following a vote of cloture, the Senate conducts a simple majority vote on whether to confirm, reject, or take no action on the nomination.[12]

About the Cabinet

A presidential Cabinet is a group of senior federal officials who advise the president on the issues and activities of their respective agencies. The Cabinet tradition is rooted in Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 of the Constitution, which states that the president "may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices."[13]

While not explicitly identified in the Constitution, the Cabinet secretaries are the 15 agency heads who are in the presidential line of succession. The vice president is also part of the Cabinet. These positions, in order of presidential succession, are:

The number of officials in a Cabinet can vary across presidential administrations. The following additional positions are part of Trump's second term presidential Cabinet:

All of the positions above, except for Vice President and White House Chief of Staff, require Senate confirmation.

Other Trump Cabinet nominees

See also: Donald Trump's Cabinet, 2025 and Confirmation process for Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees, 2025

The following table provides an overview of the status, confirmation hearings, and committee and Senate votes for each of Trump's Cabinet and Cabinet-rank nominees in his second term.

Overview of confirmation process for Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees in his second term
Nominee Position Announced Senate committee Confirmation hearing Committee vote Senate vote Status
Marco Rubio Secretary of State November 13, 2024 Foreign Relations January 15, 2025 Favorable (22-0) 99-0 Confirmed on January 20, 2025
Scott Bessent Secretary of the Treasury November 22, 2024 Finance January 16, 2025 Favorable (16-11) 68-29 Confirmed on January 27, 2025
Pete Hegseth Secretary of Defense November 12, 2024 Armed Services January 14, 2025 Favorable (14-13) 51-50 Confirmed on January 24, 2025
Matt Gaetz Attorney General November 13, 2024 Judiciary N/A N/A N/A Withdrawn on November 21, 2024
Pam Bondi Attorney General November 21, 2024 Judiciary January 15-16, 2025 Favorable (12-10) 54-46 Confirmed on February 4, 2025
Doug Burgum Secretary of the Interior November 14, 2024 Energy and Natural Resources January 16, 2025 Favorable (18-2) 80-17 Confirmed on January 30, 2025
Brooke Rollins Secretary of Agriculture November 23, 2024 Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry January 23, 2025 Favorable (23-0) 72-28 Confirmed on February 13, 2025
Howard Lutnick Secretary of Commerce November 19, 2024 Commerce, Science, and Transportation January 29, 2025 Favorable (16-12) 51-45 Confirmed on February 18, 2025
Lori Chavez-DeRemer Secretary of Labor November 22, 2024 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions February 19, 2025 Favorable (13-9) 67-32 Confirmed on March 10, 2025
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Secretary of Health and Human Services November 14, 2024 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
/ Finance		 January 30, 2025 / January 29, 2025 N/A / Favorable (14-13) 52-48 Confirmed on February 13, 2025
Scott Turner Secretary of Housing and Urban Development November 22, 2024 Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs January 16, 2025 Favorable (13-11) 55-44 Confirmed on February 5, 2025
Sean Duffy Secretary of Transportation November 18, 2024 Commerce, Science, and Transportation January 15, 2025 Favorable (28-0) 77-22 Confirmed on January 28, 2025
Chris Wright Secretary of Energy November 16, 2024 Energy and Natural Resources January 15, 2025 Favorable (15-5) 59-38 Confirmed on February 3, 2025
Linda McMahon Secretary of Education November 19, 2024 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions February 13, 2025 Favorable (12-11) 51-45 Confirmed on March 3, 2025
Doug Collins Secretary of Veterans Affairs November 14, 2024 Veterans' Affairs January 21, 2025 Favorable (18-1) 77-23 Confirmed on February 4, 2025
Kristi Noem Secretary of Homeland Security November 12, 2024 Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs January 17, 2025 Favorable (13-2) 59-34 Confirmed on January 25, 2025
Jamieson Greer U.S. Trade Representative November 26, 2024 Finance February 6, 2025 Favorable (15-12) 56-43 Confirmed on February 26, 2025
Tulsi Gabbard Director of National Intelligence November 13, 2024 Intelligence (Select) January 30, 2025 Favorable (9-8) 52-48 Confirmed on February 12, 2025
Elise Stefanik U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations November 11, 2024 Foreign Relations January 21, 2025 Favorable (Voice Vote) N/A Withdrawn on March 27, 2025
Michael Waltz U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations May 1, 2025 Foreign Relations July 15, 2025
September 17, 2025		 Favorable (12-10)
Favorable (11-10)		 47-43 Confirmed on September 19, 2025
Russell Vought Director of the Office of Management and Budget November 22, 2024 Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs / Budget January 15, 2025 / January 22, 2025 Favorable (8-7) / Favorable (11-0) 53-47 Confirmed on February 6, 2025
Lee Zeldin Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency November 11, 2024 Environment and Public Works January 16, 2025 Favorable (11-8) 56-42 Confirmed on January 29, 2025
Kelly Loeffler Administrator of the Small Business Administration December 4, 2024 Small Business and Entrepreneurship January 29, 2025 Favorable (12-7) 52-46 Confirmed on February 19, 2025
John Ratcliffe Director of the Central Intelligence Agency November 12, 2024 Intelligence (Select) January 15, 2025 Favorable (14-3) 74-25 Confirmed on January 23, 2025


Historical comparison of Cabinet confirmations

Comparison to Biden administration

See also: Joe Biden's Cabinet

The following chart displays how many days it took for the Cabinet secretaries of President Joe Biden (D) to be confirmed after the inauguration in 2021. This chart includes the main 15 Cabinet positions.

Comparison to Trump's first term

See also: Donald Trump presidential Cabinet, 2017-2021

The following chart displays how many days it took for President Donald Trump's (R) first term Cabinet secretaries to be confirmed after the inauguration in 2017. This chart includes the main 15 Cabinet positions.

Comparison to Obama administration

The following chart displays how many days it took for the Cabinet secretaries of President Barack Obama (D) to be confirmed after the inauguration in 2009. This chart includes the main 15 Cabinet positions.


List of U.S. ambassadors to the United Nations, 1946-2025

See also: U.S. Mission to the United Nations

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Truth Social, "Trump on March 27, 2025," accessed March 27, 2025
  2. ↑ Foreign Relations Committee, "NOMINATIONS," January 21, 2025
  3. ↑ Foreign Relations Committee, "NOMINATIONS," January 21, 2025
  4. ↑ Biden-Harris Transition, "President-elect Biden Announces Key Members of Economic Team," November 30, 2020
  5. ↑ CNN.com, "White House pulls Tanden nomination," March 2, 2021
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Center for Presidential Transition, "Biden Joins the Club: Each of the Previous Five Presidents Had an Early Cabinet Nominee Withdraw," March 3, 2021
  7. ↑ United States Congress, " STEFANIK, Elise M." accessed July 7, 2025
  8. ↑ Omicron Delta Kappa, "Elise Stefanik: A New Generation of Leadership," accessed July 7, 2025
  9. ↑ Elise Stefanik for Congress, "Elise’s Story," accessed August 6, 2013
  10. ↑ Post Star, "Potential challengers to Owens exploring run," accessed August 6, 2013
  11. ↑ CRS Report for Congress, "Senate Confirmation Process: An Overview," accessed July 24, 2013
  12. ↑ Congressional Research Service, "Senate Consideration of Presidential Nominations: Committee and Floor Procedure," April 4, 2019
  13. ↑ Constitution Center, "Presidential Advisors," accessed November 18, 2020
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