Marc Selinger
Defense Daily
The Senate plans to vote May 8 on the nomination of former Rep. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.) to be Air Force secretary, according to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).
A hold that an unnamed senator had placed on the nomination over a “local issue” has been lifted, McCain told Defense Daily May 4.
McCain said he expects the full Senate will easily approve Wilson. The Senate Armed Services Committee, which McCain chairs, backed Wilson’s nomination by a 22-5 vote April 5.
Lisa Disbrow, the Air Force undersecretary, has been serving as acting secretary since January.
McCain said his committee has yet to receive formal paperwork from the Trump administration for the nomination of Boeing executive Pat Shanahan to be deputy secretary of defense. The White House announced Shanahan’s selection in mid-March.
“I have no idea what the holdup is,” McCain said. “We need a deputy secretary of defense very badly.”
The current deputy, Bob Work, a temporary holdover from the Obama administration, “is doing a fine job, but [Defense Secretary Jim] Mattis has to have his own team,” McCain added.
The White House had no immediate comment.
