Overview

• At his July 15 hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Waltz faced extensive questioning from Democrats on his accidental addition of a journalist to a classified Signal chat, known as Signalgate.
• Committee Democrats also challenged his support for deep cuts to U.N. agencies and foreign aid for Ukraine under the Trump administration’s America First agenda.
• With Republicans holding a 53–47 Senate majority and needing only 50 votes for approval, Waltz is expected to secure confirmation without Democratic support.
• Upon confirmation, Waltz will assume a U.N. ambassador post that President Trump has downgraded from Cabinet rank and reassigned under Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s authority.
• His hearing concludes a months-long vacancy after Elise Stefanik’s withdrawn nomination and underscores the administration’s realignment of U.S. policy at the United Nations.