The White House on Nov. 10 sent the Senate 16 nominations for federal posts and withdrew one earlier judicial nomination. The list covers judgeships, ambassadorships, and senior jobs at the Treasury Department, the Defense Department, and other agencies. The White House did not say when the Senate would consider the names.
James Cody Hiland, of Arkansas, was nominated to be a United States circuit judge for the Eighth Circuit, to succeed Bobby E. Shepherd, who is retiring. The White House also withdrew the nomination of Lee Philip Rudofsky, of Arkansas, for that same seat. Rudofsky’s nomination had been sent to the Senate on Sept. 14, 2026.
Bernard Michael Desrosiers, of the District of Columbia, was nominated as an associate judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, for a term of 15 years. He would succeed Hiram E. Puig-Lugo, who has retired.
Joseph Weirsky, of Virginia, was nominated to be director of the National Counterterrorism Center in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. He would replace Joseph Kent, who resigned. Daniel Zimmerman, of North Carolina, was nominated to be an assistant secretary of defense in a new position.
Five people were nominated as ambassadors, a rank the notices give in its full formal title. Mikhail Bogachek, of Florida, was named for the Republic of Kosovo. John Burns, of South Carolina, was named for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Pedro Cabrera, of Florida, was named for the Republic of Guatemala, and Matthew Millhollin, of Tennessee, was named for the Sultanate of Oman.
William Stephens, of Virginia, a career member of the Senior Executive Service, was nominated as ambassador to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. The notice says he would also serve at the same time, and without added pay, as ambassador to the Solomon Islands and to the Republic of Vanuatu.
Peter A. Feldman, of the District of Columbia, was nominated to be chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, succeeding Alexander Hoehn-Saric, who resigned. The White House also sent a reappointment of Feldman as a commissioner for a seven-year term beginning Oct. 27, 2026.
Hugo Dante Jr., of Alabama, was nominated as director of the Office of Financial Research at the Department of the Treasury for a term of six years, succeeding Dino Falaschetti. Rebekah Jurata, of California, was nominated as an assistant secretary of the Treasury, succeeding Luke Pettit, who resigned.
Mark Aesch, of Florida, was nominated to be federal transit administrator, succeeding Marcus Molinaro. Andreas Borgeas, of California, was nominated as a member of the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States for a term expiring Sept. 30, 2028, succeeding Sylvia M. Becker, whose term has expired. Julia Diaz-Rex, of Puerto Rico, was nominated as United States attorney for the District of Puerto Rico for a term of four years, succeeding W. Stephen Muldrow, who resigned.