Overview
- The Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 24 voted 12-10 to report Mike Waltz’s nomination favorably to the full Senate.
- Republican Sen. Rand Paul had blocked a scheduled committee vote, citing Waltz’s 2020 congressional vote on Afghanistan troop withdrawal and questioning his alignment with Trump’s agenda.
- Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen provided the decisive vote in exchange for the administration’s commitment to deliver $75 million in lifesaving foreign assistance.
- Waltz now moves to the Senate floor for a confirmation vote, though no date has been set and senators could still place holds on his nomination.
- Approval of Waltz, who was ousted as national security adviser over the Signalgate breach, highlights deep GOP fractures and the use of legislative negotiating power in executive appointments.