Michelle Steel’s nomination as U.S. ambassador to South Korea is scheduled for a confirmation vote today before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The committee will hold a business meeting at 10 a.m. Eastern time on June 4 to consider Steel and eight other diplomatic and national security nominees appointed by President Donald Trump.
Steel completed her confirmation hearing before the committee on July 20 without major difficulty. Despite heightened political tensions ahead of the primary election, she received favorable responses from senators in both the Republican and Democratic parties.
Sen. Tim Kaine, a senior Democrat from Virginia, publicly expressed support for Steel during the hearing. Kaine highlighted the Korean American Divided Families National Registry Act, which Steel co-sponsored while serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.
If Steel clears the committee vote, her confirmation process will enter its final stage. Her nomination would then move to the full Senate for a confirmation vote.
If the Senate approves the nomination, Steel would receive final authorization from President Trump and be formally appointed as U.S. ambassador to South Korea.
A simple majority of at least 51 votes is required for confirmation in the full Senate.
