The Independent View: Warren Lifts Hold On Air Force Secretary Nomination After Ethics Agreement Extension

Air Force Secretary Nominee, Frank Kendall, is One step closer to clearing a Major Procedural Hurdle after Agreeing to Extend his Industry Recusal, from Two years to Four years, at the behest of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

Kendall’s May 25th Nomination, has been on hold for weeks due to holds by Warren, Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), and Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT).

With Congress’s August Recess approaching, the potential for an even Longer Delay in Kendall’s Nomination, was feared by many Defense Watchers eager to get the longtime Industry and Acquisitions Expert on board at the Pentagon.

Also held up was Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Nominee, Heidi Schyu. Defense News Reported. July 13th that “multiple senators” have placed Holds on a Dozen Pentagon Nominees, including Kendall and Schyu.

“Senator Warren lifted her holds on defense nominees Kendall and Shyu after they each agreed to her requests for them to extend their ethics agreements/industry recusals from two years to four years,” an Aide said.

The Two agreed to Avoid seeking a Waiver to their Ethics Agreements, consistent with a Commitment Warren pressed Defense Secretary. Lloyd J. Austin III, to make at his Nomination Hearing.

In addition to the nominated Candidates, the Ethics Crusader has proposed Two Bills to Tighten Oversight and Root-Out potential Conflicts-of-Interest between Defense Companies and the Pentagon.

Warren’s DOD Ethics and Anti-Corruption Act would Prohibit Big Defense Contractors from Hiring former Senior DOD Officials for Four years after they Leave Government, while an Aide called her Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act “the most ambitious anti-corruption legislation since Watergate.”

Peters’s Hold on the Kendall Nomination relates to the Awarding of an F-35 International Training Center to Arkansas’s Ebbing Air National Guard Base, instead of Michigan’s Selfridge Air National Guard Base.

Lee, meanwhile, Declines to Confirm or Deny that he has a Hold-in-Place.

A Senate Aide Confirmed the Three Holds.

In the Absence of a Permanent Air Force Secretary, Acting Secretary, John P. Roth, is the Second-Longest-serving Temporary Leader in the Position at over 170 days. At 190 days, a Renewal is Required.