Despite promising to put “U.S. diplomacy back in the hands of genuine professionals,” former Vice President Joe Biden may still put donors into ambassador roles if elected, Politico reports.
When asked about who ambassadorship positions would be doled out to in December, Biden said he wouldn’t rule out giving the roles to campaign donors and fundraisers. But he did say whoever he selects for a job will be qualified for it.
“I’m going to appoint the best people possible,” the former vice president said at the time. “Nobody, in fact, will be appointed by me based on anything they contributed.”
A former U.S. ambassador to Russia during the Obama administration said he disagrees with the concept of giving money to get a job later.
“Most certainly at this moment in time, when morale has been incredibly eroded in the foreign service, it doesn’t send the right signal,” former ambassador Michael McFaul told Politico.
Some of Trump’s picks, who were big donors, have been involved in scandals.
“We criticize Trump endlessly for using tools of the state for his own personal political gain at the cost of our national interest,” Elizabeth Shackelford, a former U.S. diplomat who resigned from the foreign service, told Politico. “And if we’re being honest, appointing high-dollar donors to ambassadorships can only fairly be described as this type of activity. This is the time to show leadership on that front.”
Former ambassador to the European Union hotelier Gordon Sondland was given the role after he donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration. Sondland became a key player in the Ukraine affair that led to Trump’s impeachment trial and subsequent acquittal, according to Politico.
Last month, reports surfaced that Trump donor and New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, was accused of racism and sexism. He serves as U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom. He also was accused of trying to convince the U.K. to move the British Open to a Trump golf property at the president's asking. Johnson has denied wrongdoing, Politico reports.
Some career U.S. diplomats told Politico they hoped Biden would follow Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s plan on ambassador positions.
“I won’t give ambassadorial posts to wealthy donors or bundlers — period,” Warren said in a plan she released about rebuilding the State Department.
If Biden does give jobs to donors, diplomats told Politico they hope he reduces the number of roles he gives to people who are not in the foreign service.
Prior to Trump, most modern presidents gave around 70% of ambassadorships to career diplomats, and 30% to outside political appointees, including wealthy donors.
Trump has increased the spots given to non-career diplomats to about 40%, according to statistics from the American Foreign Service Association, a union representing U.S. diplomats.
“I do think this is a moment to be bold,” a former U.S. ambassador told Politico. “I do hope Biden will do better than 70-30.”
AFSA President Eric Rubin said Biden should follow the requirements of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, which he pointed out that “political appointments as ambassador should be rare, and that all nominees must be fully qualified. That is the law of the land.”
Some current and former diplomats said they’d like to see the percentage of political appointees fall as low as 10%.
“It’s totally un-American to have people slave away for years to gain the skills to do this, and others just write a check and show up,” a former U.S. diplomat told Politico.
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