The State Department has delayed planned training sessions for President Trump’s newly appointed ambassadors until May, according to a Monday CNN report.
The rescheduled sessions are a sign of the slow pace at which that the Trump administration is filling diplomatic posts.
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CNN reports that with so few nominations, officials felt the training would be pointless.
The State Department did not immediately provide comment about the training session delays. The Hill has also reached out the White House for comment.
So far David Friedman, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, is the only one who has been confirmed out of a total of five who have been nominated.
Trump’s friends reportedly have been pushing for top overseas ambassadorial posts in Western Europe or the Caribbean. CNN reports that the president is “so overwhelmed” by incoming requests from his wealthy supporters who say Trump promised them an important post.
Vice President Mike Pence
Mike (Michael) Richard PenceState Dept. delays training sessions for Trump’s new ambassadors: report Trump records robocall for Kansas special election Club for Growth to target moderate Republicans for stalled ObamaCare repeal MORE‘s team and his top political aide Nick Ayers are now largely handling the ambassadorship process, a person familiar with the process told CNN.
It can take several months to vet new envoys before they can begin their official duties.
The Obama administration, at its outset, also left several important postings unfilled for a few months.
