Representative Elise Stefanik, a Republican from New York, is scheduled to be released from the House on April 2, moving toward a confirmation vote to become the ambassador to the United Nations. This follows weeks of anticipation regarding her appointment to President Trump’s cabinet.
Senate Republicans have delayed Ms. Stefanik’s confirmation due to the slim margins in the House. Speaker Mike Johnson has been cautious, as losing her reliable Republican vote would hinder efforts to pass government funding measures that faced near-unanimous opposition from Democrats.
Despite being Mr. Trump’s first cabinet nominee, Ms. Stefanik remains the only one yet to be confirmed, placing her in a unique position. She is a member of the 119th Congress without subcommittee assignments, having attended the initial Trump cabinet meeting, and seated with cabinet members during Mr. Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress, rather than with her House colleagues.
Her situation is expected to change on April 2 when two Trump-endorsed Republicans are anticipated to fill vacant seats left by former Representatives Mike Waltz and Matt Gaetz of Florida. Following this, Senate Republicans are likely to proceed with Ms. Stefanik’s confirmation, as indicated by sources familiar with the process who requested anonymity.
A representative for Senator John Thune, the Republican majority leader from South Dakota, did not provide comments regarding the confirmation vote schedule.
Though the Republican majority in the House will remain narrow, Speaker Johnson will gain some flexibility. He has openly acknowledged the difficulties of managing the current political landscape, saying, “I had 220 Republicans and 215 Democrats, and then President Trump began to cull the herd,” referring to the selection of House Republicans for the administration. He noted the challenges posed by the smallest majority in history, stating, “For a big chunk of the first 100 days of the Congress, and perhaps beyond, this is not an easy task, but we’re going to get it done.”