Austin Ruse President | The Center for Family and Human Rights

Following her Senate confirmation hearing, Representative Elise Stefanik is poised to become President Donald Trump's ambassador to the United Nations. Aligned with the president's "America first, peace through strength" agenda, Stefanik has committed to evaluating every UN agency to assess their benefit to America.

During the hearing, concerns were raised by several senators on the Committee on Foreign Relations about the UN system not fulfilling its mission. Senator James Risch (R-ID), committee chairman, stated that "the vast majority of the American people do not recognize the deterioration that has happened at the United Nations and how it has strayed from its original purposes."

Despite these concerns, the U.S. remains a significant funder of the UN system, contributing 22% of its regular budget and 25% of its peacekeeping budget. Stefanik assured that taxpayer dollars would be spent wisely on programs grounded in law.

While abortion was not directly addressed during the hearing, it remains a contentious issue where some believe UN agencies have overstepped agreed boundaries. Agencies like the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and World Health Organization (WHO) have been criticized for promoting abortion aggressively.

Stefanik identified agencies such as the World Food Program and UNICEF as operating effectively under U.S. leadership. However, she noted issues with UNICEF's involvement in promoting comprehensive sexuality education and youth gender transition.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a supporter of abortion rights and minority ranking member of the committee, encouraged support for UNFPA. Trump had defunded this agency during his first term. Stefanik promised a review of UNFPA while highlighting her commitment to women's health issues such as maternal mortality and malnutrition.

Defunding UNFPA aligns with Trump's goal to reduce federal overspending on unauthorized expenditures exceeding $500 billion annually.

An executive order titled “Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid” indicates that Trump's administration views U.S. foreign aid as an area needing reform to eliminate progressive policies perceived as destabilizing world peace.

Stefanik's confirmation appears likely; she would be notable as both Congress's youngest woman elected in 2014 and potentially its first direct appointee to a Cabinet post at age 40. She emphasized her role as a mother amid her political career, acknowledging challenges ahead in defending family values at the UN where debates often focus on life and family issues.