Senate Confirms Alabama’s Blanchard and Christine to Key Trump Administration Posts
Approvals were among a block of 107 Trump appointees that passed by a 51-49 party line vote
The U.S. Senate has approved two nominees from Alabama—Brian Christine and Lynda Blanchard—to fill high-profile roles in the Trump administration. The approvals were among a block of 107 Trump appointees that passed by a 51-49 party line vote.
Both of Alabama’s Senators, Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt, voted ‘yea’ on the nominations.
The Senate confirmed Lynda Blanchard to serve as the U.S. Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture (FAO), granting her the rank of Ambassador.
The FAO is a specialized agency of the UN tasked with leading international efforts to improve food security and nutrition and alleviate hunger. As part of this mission, it works with governments and agencies to improve and develop forestry, fisheries and water resources. At present, it has 195 members, 194 countries and the EU. Its motto is “fiat panis”—“let there be bread.” It was founded in 1945, and currently works in 130 countries worldwide.
Blanchard, a Montgomery native, previously served as U.S. Ambassador to Slovenia from 2019 to 2021. She also ran for Alabama Governor in 2022 as a Republican. A graduate of Auburn University, she and her family live in Montgomery. Prior to entering public service, she and her husband John built a successful real estate business in Montgomery.
Blanchard co-founded the 100X Development Foundation in 2004 to develop creative, faith-based solutions for fighting poverty and improving the lives of children around the world. As CEO, she played an active role in shaping the foundation’s mission and approving its priorities.
Through 100X, Blanchard has worked in Alabama and abroad—in Africa, Asia, and South America—partnering with local organizations to build orphanages, launch sustainable development projects, and create food production enterprises. The foundation also supports a range of charities across Alabama that serve children and vulnerable families.
Over the past two decades, her leadership through 100X has helped improve the lives of thousands of children and families in fifteen countries, as well as in communities across Alabama.
The Senate also confirmed Dr. Brian Christine to be Assistant Secretary for Health at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Christine is a board-certified urologist who earned his medical degree from Emory University and completed his urology residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. After residency, he joined Urology Centers of Alabama, where he practiced general urology before focusing his career on men’s prostate and sexual health.
A published author and co-author of numerous medical papers, Dr. Christine is widely recognized as a speaker and invited specialist in his field. He holds memberships in several professional organizations, including the Sexual Medicine Society of North America, the International Society for Sexual Medicine, the European Association of Urology, and the International Continence Society.
Christine’s nomination had earlier passed out of the Senate HELP (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions) Committee by a narrow 12–11 margin. In his new role, he will act as the key health adviser to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and lead a newly formed office called the Administration for a Healthy America.
During his confirmation hearing, Christine described himself as a “main street doctor,” emphasizing his connection to everyday patient care, and pledged to focus on chronic disease and restoring trust in health systems. If all goes as planned, Christine will now oversee programs such as Title X family planning and other public health initiatives.
For Alabama, these confirmations mark a major win on the national stage. Local officials and party leaders see it as a sign of growing influence in federal affairs.
ALPolitics.com congratulates both Ambassador Blanchard and Secretary Christine on their long-overdue confirmations. Both told us they were excited to be able to serve in their new roles, and we hope to have more extensive comments from them once the whirlwind of their confirmations settles.
Ambassador Blanchard sent this photo of herself and two other new female Ambassadors at Ambassador School: Blanchard (far right), Callista Gingrich, former Ambassador to the Holy See and now to Switzerland (left, in pink) and Kimberly Guilfoyle, new Ambassador to Greece (between Gingrich and Blanchard).
