Biden's Treasury hobbled by Cruz's nomination blocks over Nord Stream 2 -officials
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury is being held hostage by Republican Senator Ted Cruz's efforts to halt a Russia-to-Germany gas pipeline, blocking critical appointments when the federal debt limit remains a pressing issue, White House officials and Democrats in Congress say.
Only four confirmed nominees are in place in the top ranks of the Treasury, of about 20 slots for presidential picks, officials say. More than eight months after President Joe Biden took office, his nominees across the government are being approved at a slower rate than the past three presidents, federal data shows.
In addition to the toll that Cruz's actions are taking on the Treasury's ability to tackle the federal debt limit, they are hurting the Biden administration's ability to address other big problems, senior officials say, including a global minimum tax, terrorism and financial intelligence.
Cruz has wielded power by being a lone holdout on a fast-track confirmation process that requires consent by all 100 senators for non-controversial nominees -- a description the White House says fits many of the Treasury and other picks awaiting Senate confirmation, including numerous ambassadors.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/bidens-treasury-hobbled-by-cruzs-nomination-blocks-over-nord-stream-2-officials/ar-AAPmkFG
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