GOP Sen. Jim Risch criticizes Republican blockade of Biden's nominees

• The delays have frustrated the Biden administration, which has argued that the tactic is hurting national security interests.

What they're saying: "I have been a critic of this since I started on the Foreign Relations Committee," Risch said during a talk at the Halifax International Security Forum, per Politico. "I was a governor. I understand you have to have a team in place in order to govern."

• “This is a political matter,” he added. "We went through the same thing in the Trump administration."
• Risch said he has been “as energetic as I can" about confirming the nominations.

Worth noting: The Idaho senator did not name Hawley and Cruz, saying, “They’re not here to defend themselves, so I’m not going to defend them either.”