Monica Crowley, a conservative author, media personality, and former Treasury official, was approved late Monday as the assistant secretary of state and chief of protocol, with the status of ambassador. Lawmakers voted 52-45 to confirm Crowley.

Crowley, a longstanding Fox News contributor and global affairs commentator, previously served in the first Trump administration, receiving the Treasury Department’s Alexander Hamilton Award.

“I am honored to nominate Monica Elizabeth Crowley, Ph.D. to serve as Ambassador, Assistant Secretary of State, and Chief of Protocol of the United States of America. Monica will be the Administration Representative for major U.S. hosted events, including America’s 250th Birthday in 2026, the FIFA World Cup in 2026, and the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028,” President Donald Trump said in a December statement announcing her nomination.

“During my First Term, Monica did an incredible job as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Public Affairs. For her exceptional service, she received the Alexander Hamilton Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Department. Monica is a New York Times bestselling author, and has been a popular anchor, and political and foreign affairs analyst, for the Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network, among others. A graduate of Colgate University, she holds two Master’s degrees, and a Doctorate in International Relations, from Columbia University. She will be an extraordinary Representative of our Country. Congratulations Monica,” Trump added at the time.

Crowley earned a PhD in international relations from Columbia University.

The Arizona native was up in New Jersey and began her profession as a research assistant under former President Richard Nixon’s post-presidential administration. Following that position, she released her book, “Nixon Off the Record.”

She joined Fox News Channel in 1996, the same year it debuted, and frequently appeared with presenter Sean Hannity on “Hannity” and its predecessor, “Hannity & Colmes,” with the late Alan Colmes.

She also appeared in one episode of “House of Cards,” playing herself, and hosted the syndicated “Monica Crowley Show.” She has earned several more honors, including Woman of the Year in 2010 from the Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women.

The U.S. Travel Association lauded her nomination, saying that she will serve a “pivotal role” in the Trump administration.

“The speed with which this decision was made gives us great confidence that … Trump will seek to maximize the opportunities of the decade of sports and events that lies ahead,” said CEO Geoff Freeman.

“Landmark moments [she will be involved in planning] will attract millions of travelers to America and showcase the best of our great nation while creating a lasting benefit to our economy.”

Separately, the U.S. Senate has been busy this week.

Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” may already be on life support in the Republican-controlled Senate, and that’s only if it makes it out of the House, which has an even slimmer GOP majority.

CNN reporter Manu Raju tweeted Monday that the bill already faces opposition from two Republican senators—Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who voiced concerns about the impact on the federal deficit, and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who opposed raising the debt ceiling.

Raju noted that if two additional moderate Republicans, such as Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), join in opposition, it would effectively doom Trump’s chances of passing the legislation as currently drafted.

Typically, Senate legislation requires 60 votes to overcome a threatened filibuster. However, under the Senate’s budget reconciliation rules, measures strictly related to budget issues can pass with a simple 51-vote majority—meaning Republicans only need 50 votes plus a tie-breaking vote from Vice President JD Vance to secure passage.

Republicans currently hold 53 of the 100 Senate seats, leaving Senate Republican Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) with little margin for error; he cannot afford more than three defections if he wants the reconciliation bill to reach Trump’s desk.

Yet, even among Republicans, the bill’s specifics have sparked disputes between different factions within the party, Alternet reported.