William Bookless, the Donald Trump administration’s choice for second-in-command at the National Nuclear Security Administration, was not confirmed before the 115th Congress adjourned Thursday.
The Senate’s lack of action sends Bookless’ nomination back to the White House, which is free to nominate him again in the 116th Congress that convened Thursday, or not. The White House did not reply to a request for comment, but one source said Bookless and other nominees who did not get a vote are expected to be returned for Senate consideration.
The Senate Armed Services Committee last month cleared Bookless to become NNSA principal deputy administrator. If President Donald Trump nominates the former Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory physicist again, the committee would still have to approve the nomination, though it could dispense with a hearing for a nominee it has already vetted.
Bookless could also refuse to go through the nomination process again, though the longtime Livermore hand in November told Nuclear Security & Deterrence Monitor he felt obliged to serve after he got the call from the Trump administration.
If renominated and confirmed, Bookless would fill the final politically appointed vacancy in NNSA’s senior leadership. The others are: NNSA administrator; deputy administrator for defense programs; and deputy administrator for defense nuclear nonproliferation. Half of those jobs will be filled by former Livermore personnel if Bookless gets the thumbs-up from the Senate.
