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Conflict in Senate Creates a Logjam of Ambassador Confirmations Conflict in Senate Creates a Logjam of Ambassador Confirmations
(about 17 hours later)
WASHINGTON — Next month, President Obama will host African leaders at what the White House describes as “the largest single engagement by any U.S. president with Africa.” But for the State Department, engaging those leaders has been more difficult.WASHINGTON — Next month, President Obama will host African leaders at what the White House describes as “the largest single engagement by any U.S. president with Africa.” But for the State Department, engaging those leaders has been more difficult.
The Senate has yet to act on the nominations of 13 ambassadors to African countries, and two of the nominations have languished for over a year. With no ambassadors in place, the diplomats left in charge of embassies often have trouble meeting with the host country’s leadership, according to current and former State Department officials.The Senate has yet to act on the nominations of 13 ambassadors to African countries, and two of the nominations have languished for over a year. With no ambassadors in place, the diplomats left in charge of embassies often have trouble meeting with the host country’s leadership, according to current and former State Department officials.
“They are not getting in on a regular basis to see heads of state,” said Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the assistant secretary for African affairs.“They are not getting in on a regular basis to see heads of state,” said Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the assistant secretary for African affairs.
But the problem is not just in Africa. In all, 43 nominees to be ambassador are awaiting action by the Senate. “That means,” Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement last week, “we’re going without our strongest voice on the ground every day in more than 25 percent of the world.”But the problem is not just in Africa. In all, 43 nominees to be ambassador are awaiting action by the Senate. “That means,” Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement last week, “we’re going without our strongest voice on the ground every day in more than 25 percent of the world.”
The difficulty for Mr. Kerry and the Obama administration has its roots in the rule changes Senate Democrats pushed through last year in response to Republican filibusters over many of the administration’s nominees. As a result of those rule changes, it is harder for the minority party to block a nomination through the threat of a filibuster, but the cooperation needed to rapidly confirm several nominees at once is much harder to come by.The difficulty for Mr. Kerry and the Obama administration has its roots in the rule changes Senate Democrats pushed through last year in response to Republican filibusters over many of the administration’s nominees. As a result of those rule changes, it is harder for the minority party to block a nomination through the threat of a filibuster, but the cooperation needed to rapidly confirm several nominees at once is much harder to come by.
As payback for the rule changes, Senate Republicans are typically refusing to provide the unanimous consent required to proceed with quick confirmation votes. But they blame Democrats — in particular Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader — for the confirmation backlog, and they say that they have moved quickly to approve nominees that the administration has prioritized, like the ambassadors to Iraq and Egypt.As payback for the rule changes, Senate Republicans are typically refusing to provide the unanimous consent required to proceed with quick confirmation votes. But they blame Democrats — in particular Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader — for the confirmation backlog, and they say that they have moved quickly to approve nominees that the administration has prioritized, like the ambassadors to Iraq and Egypt.
“Rather than filling vacant embassies to alleviate the national security concerns raised by Secretary Kerry and others, the majority leader — who controls the Senate floor — has chosen to spend this week on a sportsman’s bill and previous weeks confirming mostly judges,” said Senator Bob Corker, Republican of Tennessee, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.“Rather than filling vacant embassies to alleviate the national security concerns raised by Secretary Kerry and others, the majority leader — who controls the Senate floor — has chosen to spend this week on a sportsman’s bill and previous weeks confirming mostly judges,” said Senator Bob Corker, Republican of Tennessee, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Mr. Corker made his criticism in an email last Friday, the day after Mr. Reid took to the Senate floor to say the delays were the Republicans’ fault. “Here we are being held up here from doing the country’s work as a result of this stalling, this obstruction, the constant filibusters we have here in the United States Senate,” Mr. Reid said.Mr. Corker made his criticism in an email last Friday, the day after Mr. Reid took to the Senate floor to say the delays were the Republicans’ fault. “Here we are being held up here from doing the country’s work as a result of this stalling, this obstruction, the constant filibusters we have here in the United States Senate,” Mr. Reid said.
In addition to 43 ambassadors, there are 11 other nominees for top State Department jobs awaiting confirmation. The office that oversees the United States’ relationships with international organizations is waiting for its permanent leader, as is the office in charge of arms control verification.In addition to 43 ambassadors, there are 11 other nominees for top State Department jobs awaiting confirmation. The office that oversees the United States’ relationships with international organizations is waiting for its permanent leader, as is the office in charge of arms control verification.
Of the ambassadorial nominations waiting for Senate approval, about half are career Foreign Service officers whose appointments to countries like Honduras, Niger and South Korea would normally be approved with ease. In his statement last week, Mr. Kerry made a special plea for them, arguing that “they should be expeditiously confirmed as a block, just the way we handle promotions of our military officers.” Of the ambassadorial nominations waiting for Senate approval, about half are career Foreign Service officers whose appointments to countries like Honduras and  Niger would normally be approved with ease. In his statement last week, Mr. Kerry made a special plea for them, arguing that “they should be expeditiously confirmed as a block, just the way we handle promotions of our military officers.”
“Like our military,” Mr. Kerry added, “they dedicate their lives in service to country. We should treat them that way.”“Like our military,” Mr. Kerry added, “they dedicate their lives in service to country. We should treat them that way.”
But about 35 percent of Mr. Obama’s ambassadorial appointments have gone to political appointees; only Presidents Ronald Reagan and Gerald R. Ford had a higher proportion, according to the American Foreign Service Association, the union that represents United States diplomats. Some of those nominees have provoked particularly negative reactions among Republicans.But about 35 percent of Mr. Obama’s ambassadorial appointments have gone to political appointees; only Presidents Ronald Reagan and Gerald R. Ford had a higher proportion, according to the American Foreign Service Association, the union that represents United States diplomats. Some of those nominees have provoked particularly negative reactions among Republicans.
George J. Tsunis, a businessman and campaign donor Mr. Obama picked as ambassador to Norway, stirred outrage there when he described the second-largest party in Norway’s Parliament as “fringe elements.” Colleen Bradley Bell, nominated to be ambassador to Hungary, was previously a producer of “The Bold and the Beautiful,” a soap opera, and brought in more than $500,000 to Mr. Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign as a bundler.George J. Tsunis, a businessman and campaign donor Mr. Obama picked as ambassador to Norway, stirred outrage there when he described the second-largest party in Norway’s Parliament as “fringe elements.” Colleen Bradley Bell, nominated to be ambassador to Hungary, was previously a producer of “The Bold and the Beautiful,” a soap opera, and brought in more than $500,000 to Mr. Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign as a bundler.
Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, has said that these nominees, whom he has described as “an embarrassment,” are making the disagreement over the Senate rule changes even worse.Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, has said that these nominees, whom he has described as “an embarrassment,” are making the disagreement over the Senate rule changes even worse.
Democrats are determined to get through the remaining nominations before the Senate adjourns for five weeks in August. To do that, they would have to get a Republican consensus to approve nominees en masse. The other option is a vote on each nomination in a marathon series of votes that could take days, if not weeks.Democrats are determined to get through the remaining nominations before the Senate adjourns for five weeks in August. To do that, they would have to get a Republican consensus to approve nominees en masse. The other option is a vote on each nomination in a marathon series of votes that could take days, if not weeks.
“But it shouldn’t have to come to that,” a senior Senate Democratic aide said. “We should get them approved in a more civilized fashion.”“But it shouldn’t have to come to that,” a senior Senate Democratic aide said. “We should get them approved in a more civilized fashion.”