From the Washington Free Beacon: Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.) voted against advancing Mike Waltz’s nomination for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, a move that cost American taxpayers $75 million in funds that will now go to the U.N.
Paul was the lone Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to vote no, putting Waltz’s nomination on track to stall in an 11-11 tie. To break it, the Trump administration struck a deal with ranking member Jeanne Shaheen (D., N.H.) that will see the State Department release $50 million in aid for Haiti and $25 million for Nigeria in exchange for her vote.
Most of the funding will go toward the U.N.’s World Food Programme, according to Punchbowl News. Of the $50 million earmarked for Haiti, $13 million will be sent to the U.N.’s International Organization for Migration. Congress had previously authorized $75 million for it, but the Trump administration froze the funds earlier this year as part of its broader campaign to pause and review U.S. foreign aid spending.
The Kentucky senator’s opposition to President Donald Trump’s nominee forced the administration to come to an agreement that cuts against its own demonstrated priorities. Trump has withdrawn funding or outright removed the United States from multiple U.N. agencies—most recently the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization over the international body’s anti-American and anti-Israel prejudices.
READ MORE from the Washington Free Beacon.
Details on the $75M in lifesaving assistance that Sen. Shaheen secured in exchange for her vote for Mike Waltz in committee. pic.twitter.com/iMdJJE4nXX
— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) July 24, 2025
Notable: Trump UN nominee Mike Waltz was on track to fail by a tie vote in committee, but Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen cast a decisive vote to rescue him. 12-10, he advances to the full Senate. https://t.co/f2WFNeb7Hr
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) July 24, 2025
Sen. Shaheen’s full statement on voting to advance Mike Waltz’s nomination out of the Foreign Relations Committee, giving Waltz the requisite votes to advance to the floor amid Rand Paul’s opposition.
She mentions the potential “alternatives” to Waltz as a reason to vote yes. pic.twitter.com/FuCn07vznM
— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) July 24, 2025
Rand Paul Costs Taxpayers $75 Million With Failed Effort To Block Trump UN Nominee Mike Waltzhttps://t.co/06gypyrNJP
— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) July 24, 2025
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