Women are expected to make unprecedented gains in leadership positions on President BidenJoe BidenUS lawmakers arrive in Taiwan to meet with local officials Biden meets with Coast Guard on Thanksgiving Five reasons why Biden and the GOP are grateful this season MOREforeign policy and national security teams, but their confirmations for key appointments are blocked in the Senate.

Meaning of republican. Ted cruzRafael (Ted) Edward CruzTed Cruz reviews Newsom while on vacation in Mexico: “Cancun is way nicer than Cabo” Biden set to name Shalanda Young for budget chief O’Rourke takes over Texas power grid in connection of an offer against Abbott PLUS (Texas) and Josh hawleyJoshua (Josh) David Hawley’s GOP post-1/6 playbook is clear – and dangerous For Democrats, it should be votes, not megaphones Risch dismayed by the blockade of other GOP senators on the diplomatic choices of Biden PLUS (Mo.) have put a number of Biden candidates on hold. They say the grips are to demonstrate their objections to Biden’s policies, not to specific people, but Democrats and some Republicans are increasingly frustrated with the slow pace of confirmations – and in particular what it means for women in waiting for a vote.

The delays are particularly infuriating for advocates who have worked behind the scenes to help skilled women overcome obstacles, both overt and unconscious, to achieving gender parity.

The goal of equal representation doesn’t just benefit women, advocates say. Research shows that women’s participation in conflict resolution produces more lasting solutions and contributes to diversity of thought.

Biden has so far nominated and appointed a record number of women to leadership positions and positions requiring Senate confirmation.

“Parity between the sexes, at large, as well as within the national security space has been truly remarkable in the Biden administration,” said Loren DeJonge Schulman, vice president of research and research. evaluation with the Partnership for Public Service, a nonprofit organization that advocates for government effectiveness. .

The president has so far appointed at least 207 women and 212 men out of the 800 Senate-confirmed positions that the Partnership tracks, focusing on a wide range of full-time civilian positions in the executive branch. There are approximately 1,200 Senate confirmed appointments in total.

As of November 17, 50% of Biden’s candidates the Senate has confirmed were women. This compares to 23% during the same period under the Trump administration and 29% under the Obama administration, according to data compiled by Kathryn Tenpas, a non-resident researcher at the Brookings Institution.

Lindsay Rodman, executive director of the Leadership Council For Women In National Security (LCWINS), called the number of women who have been named so far “historic” and “a leap from the natural progression we are seeing.”

Yet one area where advocates fear Biden is lagging behind is the nomination of women for ambassadorial posts, where less than 40% of the nominees so far have been women.

Rodman said the president was unlikely to approach 50%, even if women filled the remaining vacancies.

“The numbers are really not that great,” she said.

LCWINS was informally organized in 2019 to educate and urge presidential candidates – including Biden – to commit to having at least 50% of their Senate-confirmed positions in matters of national security. are women.

More formally, the organization built a database of 927 women qualified for such positions and provided their names to the Biden team after the president was elected.

Rodman said the organization knew of 136 women in its database who joined the administration, but that number could be higher because it does not have an overview of all appointments.

LCWINS is withholding the release of names associated with its organization out of respect for privacy, but Rodman said it also speaks to the unconscious barriers that prevent women from being considered for such roles or from standing up for themselves.

“Initially, as we beta tested this database idea, a lot of women felt they wouldn’t be comfortable participating in this kind of advocacy effort unless we could tell them. promise that their name wouldn’t be released as part of that – because asking for a political nomination looks weird to a lot of people, ”Rodman said. “Even if that’s exactly what you need to do. “

Another barrier is perceived experience, Rodman said, and the fact that the Obama administration has fewer women, and especially women of color. This makes it more difficult to advocate for a newcomer to the Biden administration, which filled with Obama-era alumni.

“I think they’re sincere in their interest in showing truly diverse leadership,” Rodman said of the administration’s efforts.

Lack of previous government experience, along with disqualifications perceived as lobbying, ties to the defense industry, and even criticism of social media activity, has narrowed the field of potential candidates.

In March, Neera TandenNeera Tanden On The Money – Biden’s Big Plans For The Fed Biden Tells Shalanda Young Head Of White House Budget Office Biden Should Appoint Shalanda Young As Budget Chief MORE withdrew as Biden’s candidate for the Office of Management and Budget amid opposition from Democratic and Republican senators largely over controversial tweets.

Likewise, Republicans on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee have delayed hearing Biden’s candidate for Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, Deborah Lipstadt, highlighting tweets they deem problematic.

Partisan opposition to Biden’s candidates in general has delayed an already cumbersome and lengthy bureaucratic process.

The absence of senior leaders is most noticeable in the State Department, where at least 56 candidates are awaiting confirmation. Many applicants are subject to lockdowns – largely implemented by Cruz and Hawley – that prevent their confirmations from happening quickly.

“A small group of my fellow Republicans have allowed the party politics of the brothel to seep into a critical aspect of our national security,” the senator said. Jeanne ShaheenCynthia (Jeanne) Setback Jeanne ShaheenSununu Lets GOP Scramble in New Hampshire Three Senators Call NYT Coverage of Sinema’s Clothes “Sexist” (DN.H.) told the Senate last week, after Biden’s ambassador to NATO promptly confirmed after Hawley lifted his grip on his appointment.

Shaheen, the only woman on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, previously told an expert meeting that many of the State Department candidates whose confirmations are being delayed by Republicans are women.

At least 21 women in management positions – including 16 ambassadors, four assistant secretary positions and the candidate for the post of director general of the foreign service – are seeing their confirmations blocked by delays.

“I don’t know if this is intentional,” Shaheen told The Hill, when asked how women get stuck in the holds, but called it “particularly frustrating.”

For months, Cruz held back dozens of State Department candidates for his opposition to the Biden administration’s decision to lift sanctions on a Russian gas pipeline.

He called the argument “ridiculous” when asked if he was concerned about standing in the way of improving gender parity in government.

“If we want to play the stupid game of calling a whole gender or racial bloc, then I act to defend the women of Europe and the women of America against Russian military aggression – this is an absurd argument, but so is the argument you asked for. me about. “

Hawley holds at least four of the presidential candidates, all of whom are women. In response to a request for comment from The Hill, his office reiterated that it would maintain these withholdings “until the administration is held to account for its disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.”

He called for the resignation of the Secretary of State Antoine BlinkenAntony Blinken Strengthening Russian military puts Washington on edge Russian prosecutor decides to abolish notorious human rights group CIA director says there will be consequences if Russia is behind the attacks of “Havana syndrome” MORE, Secretary of Defense Lloyd AustinLloyd AustinDrones are a strategic responsibility for the United States and national security adviser Jake sullivanJake SullivanWhen will Biden declare America’s “One China, One Taiwan” policy? On the steel and aluminum trade, Trumpism still reigns over Hawley raises his hand over Biden’s choice for NATO envoy, thus confirming MORE in exchange for lifting the lockdowns, although he lifted his grip on Biden’s NATO candidate Julianne Smith last week after securing a pledge that she would push the alliance to increase spending by defense.

Democrats are angry and even their fellow Republicans are frustrated with the delay in confirmations.

Senator Mitt RomneyWillard (Mitt) Mitt Romney This Thanksgiving, Avoid Political Fights For Food And Talk About UFOs Instead China Examines Case Of Tennis Star Peng Shuai Biden Says He “Is Considering” A Diplomatic Boycott Of Beijing Olympics (R-Utah) told The Hill he doesn’t think the catches are gender-related, but asked for confirmations.

“I think it is important for us to have those who represent our country in their posts as soon as possible,” he said.

Senator Jim rischJim Elroy RischRisch appalled by blockade by other GOP senators on Biden’s diplomatic choices GOP looks into blocking Biden’s diplomatic choices Republican senators call for military aid for Taiwan under pressure from China MORE (R-Idaho), a leading member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the number of detentions instituted reflected deep divisions between Republicans and Democrats.

“Over the years, chocks have been used more and more. I think as the polarization here has increased so has the use of outlets. ”

Susan Sloan, author of “A Seat at the Table: Women, Diplomacy, and Lessons for the World,” raised the question of whether the lack of gender parity in the Senate – 24 women versus 76 men – contributes to the partisan stalemate.

Sloan highlights interviews she has conducted with dozens of women who have served as ambassadors, foreign ministers, and military leaders, and research highlighting women bringing unique negotiation skills, emotional intelligence, and astute listening to overcome challenges. differences and implement solutions.

“Knowing that women transcend party lines and are able to negotiate from multiple sides to find a solution, the problem that delays this process is who is in charge,” she said.