Trump’s Religious Freedom Nominee Left In Limbo As Persecution Rages Worldwide

Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom nominee, former North Carolina Rep. Mark Walker, has waited over seven months for his Senate confirmation despite involved parties stressing the role’s importance to the Daily Caller.

President Donald Trump nominated former Republican North Carolina Rep. Walker for the role April 10 but the role remains empty in November. The position remains in limbo even as the president has designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” at the end of October, citing the killing of thousands of Christians by Islamic extremists in the country.

Back in April, Trump pointed to Walker’s service in the Air Force, experience as a pastor and time as a leader in House leadership and across committees during his time in Congress.

Walker thanked Trump for the nomination. “Religious expression is the foundation of human rights and, whether it’s a college campus in New York or Sub-Saharan Africa, I’ll be relentless in fighting for those targeted who dare to live out their faith,” he wrote. (RELATED: GOP Walking Right Into Democrats’ Carefully Laid Trap)

Former Republican Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, who served as President Donald Trump’s ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom from February 2018 to January 2021, told the Caller on Wednesday that a vacancy in such a “critical post” greatly slows advancements in human rights, democracy and national security.

Thank you @realDonaldTrump for the honor of being selected to serve as Ambassador at Large Nomination of International Religious Freedom. As a former minister, along with serving in Congressional leadership, I’m open-eyed to the bad actors and regions committing these atrocities… pic.twitter.com/yANMbbI0dI

— Mark Walker (@RepMarkWalker) April 10, 2025

Brownback told the Caller that Walker has his full endorsement, pointing to Walker’s background, key relationships in Washington and around the world and “good soul.” He added that Walker is a “well-formed man” who he believes would do a good job.

Brownback is not alone. Dr. Ben Carson, vice chair of the Religious Liberty Commission, and leaders of multiple churches and religious freedom organizations emphasized their support for Walker’s nomination in an Oct. 29 letter to Trump

“Across the globe, people of faith endure relentless persecution, imprisonment, and death,” they wrote, arguing that Walker previous role as a minister and congressional experience in Intelligence and Counterterrorism made him fit for the role.

“We are eager for Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch to prioritize Ambassador-Designate Walker’s nomination for the committee’s next hearing,” the letter added.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly issued a statement to the Caller. “President Trump has focused on promoting religious freedom and fighting antisemitism in a historic way. He wants all of his nominees confirmed as quickly as possible, including Mark Walker, whose role will be critically important to protecting Americans of faith,” she said.

Brownback, who served as a Republican Kansas senator years before his ambassadorship, shared with the Caller what it’s like to be on both sides of such a nomination.

Brownback said his nomination took a similar time frame, noting that he was nominated a few months after Trump’s first inauguration. He added that he was not confirmed by the Senate until January the following year. He assumed the position in February 2018.

Because two Republicans abstained from voting for Brownback, Democrats were able to force a tie despite the GOP’s slight majority, requiring a tie-breaking vote from former President Mike Pence. Walker’s path to confirmation is also in limbo despite Republicans holding a majority in the Senate.

Brownback told the Caller that, despite the bipartisan nature of the position and the Republican majority, Walker confirmation has been delayed due to the Senate’s rules and political partisanship.

He explained that unless a nominee can garner 60 votes, the “precious commodity” of Senate floor time must be spent pushing the nomination, adding that it would only take one person to hold up the entire process.

A Senate Foreign Relations Committee spokesperson issued a statement to the Caller. “Chairman Risch has always been a strong leader on matters of religious freedom. The committee is responsible for nearly 300 nominations under each administration,” the spokesperson said.

“There is an important and complex process for vetting nominees that requires close coordination with my colleagues and the White House,” they continued. “When this nomination is ready for a hearing, it will be announced.”

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 26: Ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID) speaks during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on April 26, 2022 in Washington, DC. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the defense secretary on Monday committed a total of $713 million in foreign military financing for Ukraine and 15 allied and partner countries. (Photo by Al Drago-Pool/Getty Images)

The 1998 Religious Freedom Act, signed into law by former President Bill Clinton, created the ambassador at large position under the State Department. Though historically used as a tool for Congress, Brownback said that Trump has made international religious freedom a priority of his administration.

Brownback told the Caller the ambassador-at-large position is a vital tool in advocating against the authoritarians and dictators around the world who “have gotten very sophisticated on controlling religious people.”

Brownback pointed to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) restriction on religious freedom, a subject he has written a book on. He also testified at a Senate hearing about this topic Thursday.

Brownback argued that the ambassador-at-large serves as the administration’s “point person on a major human rights and national security topic” because the CCP has built up its surveillance of religious populations and has exported that ability abroad. (RELATED: Nicki Minaj Delivers Impassioned Defense Of Christians At UN)

“For China, [the freedom of religion is] an existential threat; for us, it’s a foundational building block of a free society,” Brownback said, adding that the world needs Walker “inside the administration and traveling around the world.”

Walker has not responded to the Daily Caller’s request for comment.