The top-level post uses a gift link with a view count limit. When it runs out, an archived copy of the article is available. I’ll note that the article has been substantially expanded since initial publication, and the archived copy captures the expanded version, and not the as-initially-published version.
To summarize, what’s going on is that while many nominations only require 50 votes to end debate, diplomatic posts have generally relied on unanimous consent to end debate, and Senator Brian Schatz has announced that he will not be agreeing to unanimous consent on any of them, forcing a day or two debate in order to get them confirmed. Since the US has an ambassador to almost every country in the world, debating them all means spending a year or so doing ambassadorial confirmations, which is completely impractical, and unlikely to actually happen.
This is the thing? The CIA front getting defunded? Not any of the other thousand things? OK.
There’s an avian flu epidemic forcing the culling of birds. Should we save the CDC/USDA/FDA? Nah, silence from the democratic party.
There have been terrible airplane accidents. Should we get more staff for ATC and make sure the FAA has a director in a time of crisis? Nah, silence
Should we allow anti-intellectuals and political agents police the language of science? Should we stop them from purging completed projects and scholarly papers? Nah, silence
Should we do something about a madman firing 12 inspector generals without following process? Nah, silence
Anything to protect career civil servants, keeping our government running and providing services to the people? Nah, silence.
But the CIA front is where we draw the line.
they are paid not to care.