America’s first Arctic ambassador was confirmed weeks ago. He may now lose his job.

Earlier this month, a crowd gathered at a venue in Fairbanks to celebrate the confirmation of U.S. Ambassador for Arctic Affairs Mike Sfraga (the first person from Alaska to hold the newly created position).

Sfraga’s confirmation was a priority for Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski. pushed for creation He served as ambassador to the North Pole and was seen personally lobbying colleagues on the Senate floor during the vote.

More than a year has passed since Sfraga’s nomination to the U.S. Senate was confirmed. opposition from some Republicans. But now, not even three months later, he may soon be unemployed.

It was Sfraga appointed It is typical for President Joe Biden and politically appointed ambassadors to resign their positions during presidential transitions; others, such as those who served as ambassadors Kenya And South AfricaThey have already announced their departure.

Sfraga, a geographer who has also worked at a think tank and the University of Alaska Fairbanks, made no such announcement publicly.

A spokesman for Sfraga declined to comment, as did a spokesman for Murkowski.

Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan said in a brief interview that Sfraga’s fate likely depends on Donald Trump.

“The tradition is that when a new administration comes in, most ambassadors either resign or resign,” said Sullivan, who missed Sfraga’s confirmation vote because of a trip to the United Nations. But I have no idea. I really don’t want to.

Sfraga’s candidacy has been closely scrutinized by some Republicans who have criticized his ties to Russia and China.

Republican U.S. Senator James Risch of Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. said Sfraga. He had spoken at a Russian government-sponsored conference chaired by Vladimir Putin, as well as at a panel sponsored by a “sanctioned, state-owned Russian energy company.”

At the Senate hearing, Sfraga called Russia “half of the Arctic” and said that “you have to join” because the region is a small community.

“In fact, at one of these conferences, President Putin gave a keynote speech,” he said. “But I had no interaction with President Putin,” he said.

Among those who voted against Sfraga’s confirmation was Trump’s pick for the new Secretary of State, Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who will be his new boss.

Many of Sfraga’s friends and allies hope he remains in office. Fran Ulmer, a former Alaska lieutenant governor who served with Sfraga on the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, said Sfraga spent many years studying Arctic issues and science and building relationships with officials from other countries.

“He has the credibility to assist the United States in pursuing a specific Arctic agenda,” he said. “These relationships are important and these relationships don’t happen overnight; takes place over years. “So it would be to the advantage of the next administration to have someone there who has both that kind of credibility and those kinds of connections.”

“If you were going to bet, it would be against him,” said another friend of Sfraga, Mark Myers, a senior figure in the federal government and former head of the U.S. Geological Survey.

“But he has strong support,” Myers added.

Fairbanks’ celebration of Sfraga’s confirmation was attended by dozens of people, including some from Alaska’s university system and the military and even Murkowski, who held a teleconference, Myers said.

“In essence, he is our neighbor, our friend, and he is very important,” Murkowski told the audience. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

Nathaniel Herz welcomes tips [email protected] or (907) 793-0312. This article it was like that in the beginning It was published In the Northern Journal, a newsletter from Herz. Subscribe to this connection.