Nominee for U.S. ambassador to United Nations pledges 'America First' UN reforms

At a confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, identified in the record as a congresswoman from New York's 21st District, told senators she would press for U.S.-led reforms at the U.N. and prioritize fiscal oversight of U.S. contributions.

The nominee said she "stand[s] ready to implement President Trump's mandate from the American people to deliver America First, Peace Through Strength, National Security Leadership on the World Stage," and described the U.N. as needing to return to its founding mission. "As outlined in Article 1, Chapter 1 of the UN Charter," she said, "the purpose of the United Nations is to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations based on the shared respect for the principle of equal rights, solve international problems, and harmonize the actions of nations in the attainment of common ends. The UN has not lived up to this founding mission, and we must demand better." (Transcript timestamp: 350.34–398.48502)

The nominee framed reform and oversight as fiscal and security priorities. She said the United States is "the largest contributor to the UN by far" and that U.S. tax dollars "should not be complicit in propping up entities that are counter to American interest, anti Semitic, or engaging in fraud, corruption, or terrorism." She pledged to push for programs that "strengthen our national security and deliver results." (Transcript timestamp: 291.01–319.78998)

On regional diplomacy and security, the nominee pointed to the Abraham Accords as an example of recent progress and underscored continued support for Israel. She said the world faces "crisis after crisis," including Americans held hostage in Hamas captivity and strategic competition with China, Russia, North Korea and Iran, and argued that "it has never been more critical for the United States to lead with strength and moral clarity." (Transcript timestamp: 237.98–290.55002)

The nominee summarized relevant public-service experience included in her testimony: she described working at the White House on the Domestic Policy Council and in the chief of staff's office, graduating from Harvard, serving in Congress after a 2014 election, and holding leadership and committee roles. She said she was elected by colleagues to serve as House Republican conference chair and described herself as "the longest serving woman on both the Armed Services and Intelligence Committees" among committee members. She added she would be "the 1st UN ambassador in over 2 decades to come directly from Congress" if confirmed. (Transcript timestamps: 105.595–195.07501, 319.78998–349.88)

The nominee closed by thanking family and constituents and said she looked forward to committee questions. The hearing record in the provided transcript contained the nominee's opening statement and biographical summary; no committee votes or formal actions are recorded in the supplied excerpt.