Know a Nominee: Linda Thomas-Greenfield to be Ambassador to the United Nations

by Causes | 2.23.21

UPDATE 2/23/21 (3:50pm EST)

• The Senate voted 78-21 to confirm Linda Thomas-Greenfield to serve as U.S. Representative to the UN General Assembly.

UPDATE 2/23/21 (12:45pm EST)

• The Senate voted 78-20 to confirm Linda Thomas-Greenfield to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
• It also voted 77-20 to limit debate on her nomination to serve as U.S. Representative to the UN General Assembly, with a confirmation vote to follow later Tuesday afternoon.

UPDATE 2/22/21

• The Senate voted 75-20 to limit further debate on Linda Thomas-Greenfield's nomination to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (UN). Her confirmation vote is expected to occur Tuesday afternoon.

The Senate is expected to consider the nomination of Linda Thomas-Greenfield to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) this week, starting with a procedural vote on Monday. Here’s what you need to know about the nominee.

Who is Linda Thomas-Greenfield?

• Thomas-Greenfield, ~68, is a former diplomat who retired from the foreign service at the conclusion of the Obama administration to work for a global business strategy firm.
• Her 35-year diplomatic career took her to four continents, including diplomatic posts in Liberia, Switzerland, Pakistan, Kenya, The Gambia, Nigeria, and Jamaica. During Obama’s second term, she served as the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.
• At the conclusion of the Obama administration, Thomas-Greenfield took a senior vice president position at the global business strategy firm Albright Stonebridge Group.
• Thomas-Greenfield earned her undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University and her Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

What’s the outlook for her nomination?

• Like other ambassadorships, this role is subject to Senate’s advice and consent, and Thomas-Greenfield hasn’t held a position that requires Senate confirmation in the past.
• During her confirmation hearing, Thomas-Greenfield received bipartisan questioning about a 2019 speech she gave about China-Africa relations which was criticized as being soft on China.
• The Senate Foreign Relations Committee advanced Thomas-Greenfield’s nomination on a bipartisan 18-4 vote. 

What does it mean for the State Dept.?

• The ambassador to the UN represents the U.S. on the UN Security Council and during meetings of the UN General Assembly.
• If confirmed, Thomas-Greenfield would be the second Black woman to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the UN, following in the footsteps of Susan Rice, who served in the role during the Obama administration.

— Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: Thomas-Greenfield: U.S. Institute of Peace via Flickr / Creative Commons | iStock.com / bennymarty)