The White House’s decision to seek Kimberly Guilfoyle’s resignation as US ambassador to Greece has opened the way for a new appointment, with the selection process involving extensive background checks coordinated by the White House and the State Department.
The head of the US embassy in Athens will serve as chargé d’affaires ad interim until a successor is appointed. The selection of a new ambassador rests with the White House, whose personnel office works with the State Department to compile a shortlist of candidates, subject to extensive background checks by federal agencies, including the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Office of Government Ethics.
The head of a US diplomatic mission may be a career diplomat or a political appointee from outside the diplomatic service.
The last career diplomat to serve as US ambassador to Greece was Geoffrey Pyatt, who held the post from 2016 to 2022. His successor, George Tsunis, was a businessman appointed by President Joe Biden.
Kimberly Guilfoyle, who succeeded Tsunis, was also a political appointee, having previously worked as a prosecutor and television political commentator and served as a prominent supporter of President Donald Trump.
The question of her successor arose on Tuesday after the White House asked Guilfoyle to resign following mounting scrutiny over allegations of improper conduct before and during her tenure in Athens. White House press secretary Katie Zacharia announced the decision, saying Guilfoyle had been “a wonderful asset to the team” and that the administration wished her well.
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The controversy followed reports alleging that Guilfoyle had sought $100,000 from a political donor to cover a personal credit card bill and had offered access to senior administration officials in return. Other allegations concerned her conduct in office and the possible use of US influence in dealings involving Greece. Guilfoyle has denied wrongdoing, describing the allegations as false and saying she would defend her reputation.
The allegations have drawn political and diplomatic attention in Greece, while the US administration has yet to announce a successor.