Stefanik nomination for UN ambassador faces fresh uncertainty

Rep. Elise Stefanik’s (R-N.Y.) nomination to serve as ambassador to the United Nations is facing fresh uncertainty as the Trump administration weighs the risks of further whittling down the Republican majority in the House.

A source familiar with the matter said the situation was fluid and that no decisions had been made about whether to pull Stefanik’s nomination or have her withdraw. The discussions about her role stem from concerns about whether Republicans can pass President Trump’s sprawling legislative agenda through the House with little room for any defections.

CBS News first reported Stefanik’s nomination was in jeopardy and that administration officials were set to discuss her fate Thursday.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment about Stefanik’s status or any ongoing discussions.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said Thursday after the news broke that he has not heard about Stefanik’s confirmation possibly getting pulled.

“We have not heard that, no. We have been waiting for them to give us some direction” on timing, Thune said.

Some Stefanik allies in the House downplayed the need for her to abandon her nomination to solidify their margins.

“Elise Stefanik is tough, smart, and ready to put America first on the world stage. She is the voice we need to fix the corrupt and broken United Nations,” Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio), who worked in the first Trump administration, posted on social platform X.

“The House Majority is solid, together, and ready to fight for the America First agenda,” Miller added.

Stefanik was one of the first Cabinet picks Trump announced after his win in November, and she gave up her position as House Republican Conference chair, the No. 4 leadership position in the House, as she was waiting to fill the seat.

The delay in her confirmation that left her in limbo had previously caused frustrations, particularly after she helped the House advance a party-line framework for Trump’s ambitious legislative agenda.

Republicans have a historically tiny House majority, where every vote matters as they aim to advance Trump’s agenda on taxes and spending cuts along party lines.

There are 218 House Republicans and 213 House Democrats, with four vacancies — meaning House Republicans can only afford to lose two Republicans on any party-line vote, assuming full attendance.

Stefanik’s confirmation was expected to move soon after a pair of Florida special election races in Republican-leaning districts on April 1, vacancies that were created by former Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) becoming national security adviser and former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) abruptly resigning after Trump initially picked him to be attorney general, before Gaetz withdrew days later.

But a closer-than-expected race in Waltz’s district has spooked some in the GOP.

Two vacancies in Democratic-leaning districts, though, will not be filled for months, giving House Republicans a bit more breathing room.

The office of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) previously told The Hill in a statement that “timing for Rep. Stefanik’s confirmation is a matter for the White House and the Senate to resolve and that he will be supportive of their approach.”

Al Weaver contributed.