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Confirmation process for Michael Waltz 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

Donald Trump (R) announced on May 1, 2025, that he had selected Michael Waltz as his nominee for U.N. Ambassador in his second presidential term. This appointment requires Senate confirmation. In a statement, Trump said, "From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation’s Interests first. I know he will do the same in his new role."[1]

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a confirmation hearing for Waltz on July 15, 2025. The Senate confirmed Waltz in a 47-43 vote on September 19, 2025.[2] Click here to read more about the confirmation process.

Trump's first nominee for the position, U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R), was announced on November 11, 2024. Trump withdrew Stefanik from consideration on March 27, 2025.[3] 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 [in the U.S. House of Representatives]. 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."[4] Click here to read more about Stefanik's nomination and withdrawal.

This page includes the following information about the confirmation process:

Confirmation process

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

Confirmation vote roll call

See also: How senators voted on Trump Cabinet nominees, 2025

The Senate confirmed Waltz in a 47-43 vote on September 19, 2025.

Summary of Senate vote on Michael Waltz's nomination for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (September 19, 2025)
Party Votes for Votes against Not voting
Democratic Party Democrats 3 41 1
Republican Party Republicans 44 1 8
Grey.png Independents 0 1 1
Totals 47 43 10


Three Democrats voted in favor of his confirmation:

One Republican voted against his nomination:


Timeline

Senate confirmation hearing

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a confirmation hearing for Waltz on July 15, 2025.

Michael Waltz's Senate confirmation hearing, July 15, 2025

About the nominee

Waltz received a bachelor's degree from the Virginia Military Institute in 1996. After graduating, he joined the U.S. Army in 1996.[12] Waltz served in the U.S. military for over 20 years and is the first retired Green Beret to win election to the U.S. House.[13] He was a defense policy director in the Pentagon and a counterterrorism policy adviser for former Vice President Dick Cheney. Waltz also co-founded a small business of over 400 employees.[13]

From 2019 to 2025, Waltz represented Florida's 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.[14] Waltz served as national security advisor in the second Trump administration from January 20, 2025, until his nomination as U.N. ambassador on May 1.[15]

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.[16]

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.[17]

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."[18]

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. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Truth Social, "Donald Trump on May 1, 2025," accessed May 1, 2025
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Politico, "Senate confirms Mike Waltz as UN ambassador," September 19, 2025
  3. ↑ New York Post, "Trump confirms NYer Elise Stefanik will be his enforcer at the UN: ‘Strong, tough, and smart,’" November 10, 2024
  4. ↑ Truth Social, "Trump on March 27, 2025," accessed March 27, 2025
  5. ↑ Washington Examiner, "Trump UN ambassador pick Mike Waltz headed for vote after Democratic slow-walking," September 17, 2025
  6. ↑ Senate Foreign Relations Committee, "Nomination Gearing," accessed July 8, 2025
  7. ↑ Truth Social, "Trump on March 27, 2025," accessed March 27, 2025
  8. ↑ Senate.gov, "Hearings & Meetings," accessed January 27, 2025
  9. ↑ Roll Call, "Senate panel backs Stefanik as Democrats protest foreign aid pause," January 30, 2025
  10. ↑ Foreign Relations Committee, "NOMINATIONS," January 21, 2025
  11. ↑ New York Post, "Trump confirms NYer Elise Stefanik will be his enforcer at the UN: ‘Strong, tough, and smart,’" November 10, 2024
  12. ↑ House Biographical Directory, "WALTZ, Michael," accessed May 15, 2025
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Congressman Michael Waltz, "Biography," accessed January 28, 2019
  14. ↑ Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "WALTZ, Michael," accessed September 11, 2025
  15. ↑ Axios, "Mike Waltz out as national security adviser," May 1, 2025
  16. ↑ CRS Report for Congress, "Senate Confirmation Process: An Overview," accessed July 24, 2013
  17. ↑ Congressional Research Service, "Senate Consideration of Presidential Nominations: Committee and Floor Procedure," April 4, 2019
  18. ↑ Constitution Center, "Presidential Advisors," accessed November 18, 2020
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