Sen. John Cornyn blocks Trump ambassador nominations over PEPFAR funding

Sen. John Cornyn (R‑Texas) warned he will withhold support for two President‑Trump ambassador nominees unless the administration demonstrates progress in releasing funds from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The nominees are Kari Lake, slated for the ambassadorship to Jamaica, and Doug Mastriano, nominated for Slovakia. Cornyn, a key swing vote on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he would not allow committee action on the nominations without confirmation that appropriated PEPFAR money has been disbursed.

The committee comprises 12 Republicans and 10 Democrats, meaning Cornyn’s opposition could produce a tie vote that would block the nominations. He framed the move as leverage to compel the administration to address the funding issue, which Congress has appropriated for global HIV/AIDS treatment.