AF Secretary Nomination Held Without Explanation By Three Senators

The Nomination of Frank Kendall, to serve as President Biden’s Air Force Secretary, is being held by Three Senators who have Declined to Publicly state the Reason for their Hold, with the Senate in Recess until July 12th.

Kendall’s Nomination sailed out of the Armed Services Committee, June 10th, after a favorable May 25th Hearing, but the Failure to reach a Nomination Vote has left, John Roth, Acting Secretary of the Air Force, for 160 days.

“Everyone wants to see this move forward,” a Senate Armed Services Committee Aide said at the Capitol, June 30th. “We’ve done our part.”

A Legislative Aide confirmed that the Three Senators holding up the Nomination are: Elizabeth Warren 9D-MA), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Mike Lee (R-UT).

The Reason for Senatorial Holds are varied, ranging from: Concerns with the Nominee, to the simple Exertion of Leverage.

“A hold is not necessarily saying we don’t want to vote on the nominee,” a Senate Aide said. “Holds are one of the few ways that senators who aren’t on the committee can let DOD or the Secretary of the Air Force know that we are here.” The Aide explained that a Hold could be a Signal, to the Pentagon, that a Letter hasn’t been Answered. “Sometimes it’s a mid-level bureaucrat that needs to answer an email,” the Aide said. “These things can be resolved.”

In the case of the Air Force, with Budget Season in Full Swing, the Lack of an Approved Nominee could Slow Down Negotiations with Congress.

Kendall, a Defense Industry Insider with extensive DOD Acquisition Experience, is sought after as the Air Force Retires Legacy Systems and plans Investments in more Fifth Generation Aircraft.

The Senate is due to Return from their Independence Day Recess on July 12th, and the August Recess is Scheduled for Aug. 9th to Sept. 15th, but Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer, is Threatening to take Away the August 9th-13th week if No Progress is made on Biden’s Infrastructure Package.

“The hold doesn’t necessarily mean that we are opposed to having a vote,” the Senate Aide said. “But the senator … may want to exact leverage on Biden, on Schumer, DOD, the Department of the Air Force, or the mid-level bureaucrat.”

Kendall is Not the only High-Level Nominee being Held-Up by the Senators.

Susanna Blume, Nominee for Director of Cost Assessment, is being held by Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), who is Unhappy with Biden’s Navy Budget.










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