GOP senator working ‘behind the scenes’ to block Trumps religious freedom nominee: report

One of President Donald Trump’s appointees has been prevented from even having a confirmation hearing as a result of one Senate Republican’s efforts.NBC News reported Monday that former Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.) is still awaiting a hearing in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee more than eight months after Trump officially announced his nomination as United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.), who defeated Walker in a bitter Republican primary in 2022, is reportedly to blame for the delay, with NBC reporting that Budd has been working “behind the scenes” to derail Walker’s hopes of confirmation.According to the outlet, both the White House and two other Republican sources have confirmed that Budd is obstructing Walker’s confirmation, though Trump has yet to publicly call out North Carolina’s junior U.S. senator. Walker’s supporters are reportedly “furious” at Budd over his hold, per NBC’s sources.”No one has more support from Cabinet members, from senators, from House members, from top leaders of faith than this nomination. Yet, for some reason, he’s not been able to get a hearing, while other people have been nominated, even as late as summer, early fall, and are already in their positions,” one Republican anonymously confided to NBC. “So who’s stopping the nomination?” The GOP source continued. “Who is it that is preventing this ambassador position to get out there and advocate on behalf of the thousands of Christians and other religious minorities being persecuted, targeted and even killed? Why is one person playing politics on all this?”Budd has not yet publicly acknowledged the reports or given a reason for opposing his confirmation. His spokesperson, Christian McMullen, would only say that Budd was unable to place an official hold on Walker’s nomination given that only committee members can do so.”Sen. Budd is not a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, but if Mark Walker’s nomination advances to the floor, Sen. Budd would vote in favor of his nomination,” McMullen said.Presidential nominations only last until the Senate adjourns at the end of each year. This means that if Trump wants Walker for the role, he’ll have to renominate him in January if he isn’t confirmed by the end of the month.Click here to read NBC’s full report.

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