Senators Place Holds on Sanctions Office Nominee

Sens. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., have both placed holds on President Joe Biden’s nomination of Erik Woodhouse to head the State Department’s Office of Sanctions Coordination.

Risch’s hold was confirmed by his spokesperson March 26, and Rubio’s hold was announced last week. The holds will prevent the Senate from swiftly confirming Woodhouse, Rubio’s office explained.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the nomination on a 12-9 vote on March 20 (see 2403200080). Risch, the committee's ranking member, criticized Woodhouse for his role in the Biden administration's decision not to sanction the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline project while Russia was threatening to invade Ukraine (see 2403070046).