|
Blinken told reporters that he had sent a letter to every member
of the Senate urging swift confirmation of dozens of nominees
for State Department positions.
The nominations are being held back by Republican Senator Rand
Paul while he seeks information from the administration on the
origins of COVID-19.
"It strains credulity that some of the members of Congress
calling most loudly for outcompeting our rivals are at the same
time tying our hands behind our back. We cannot and we must not
let this become the new normal," Blinken said.
The department said it currently has 62 nominees outstanding
with the Senate, including 38 ambassadorial nominees.
Aides to Paul did not immediately respond to a request for
comment.
Separately, nominations for more than 250 positions in the U.S.
military are also being delayed by a single Republican - Senator
Tommy Tuberville.
Tuberville began the holds in March to protest a Defense
Department policy that provides paid leave and reimburses costs
for services members who travel to get an abortion.
Most nominations are approved by Senate committees, and
eventually reviewed by the full Senate, which is controlled by
Biden's fellow Democrats. However, while confirmation for career
diplomats to State Department positions and most military
promotions are usually routine, a single senator can pause the
process by putting a hold on nominations that force them to be
considered one at a time, taking many hours each.
(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle and Simon Lewis; Editing by
Rosalba O'Brien)
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2022 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
