{"id":55539,"date":"2022-01-14T17:40:18","date_gmt":"2022-01-14T17:40:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2022\/01\/14\/reed-aims-for-fresh-push-to-confirm-bidens-pentagon-nominees\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:05:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:05:12","slug":"reed-aims-for-fresh-push-to-confirm-bidens-pentagon-nominees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/congress\/2022\/01\/14\/reed-aims-for-fresh-push-to-confirm-bidens-pentagon-nominees\/","title":{"rendered":"Reed aims for fresh push to confirm Biden\u2019s Pentagon nominees"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2015 Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed<\/a>, D-R.I., said this week he will renew his efforts to persuade the U.S. Senate to confirm President Joe Biden\u2019s nominees for the Pentagon<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He is expected to ask Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to expend floor time to hold procedural votes to install senior Pentagon officials, in the face of delay tactics from some Republicans. The vacancies at the Pentagon would get new attention amid fresh tensions with Russia and the military\u2019s efforts to keep pace with China technologically<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The nominations have been held up in part due to Republican opposition, an obstacle that remains. Republican Sens. Josh Hawley<\/a>, of Missouri, and Ted Cruz, of Texas, indicated Thursday they will continue to force procedural votes on Biden nominees to the Pentagon and State Department \u2015 public stands meant to highlight their criticism of Biden\u2019s foreign policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The delay is affecting nine nominees who have cleared the Senate Armed Services Committee and are awaiting a vote. Few State Department and Pentagon nominees have come to the Senate floor in recent weeks as the chamber\u2019s leadership has attempted to pass key parts of Biden\u2019s domestic agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hours before Schumer announced Thursday night the Senate will vote Tuesday on voting rights legislation, Reed said he would lobby for the Senate to turn to nominees next. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat we want to do … if we have to, is bring people to the floor for votes,\u201d Reed told Defense News. \u201cRecognizing that voting rights is the most critical issue, but once that has been resolved, I think we\u2019re going to ask if we can get access to the floor and then start moving these [nominees].\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before the holiday break, Cruz struck a deal with Schumer <\/a>to use the unanimous consent process to confirm 32 noncontroversial ambassadors and senior State Department officials. In exchange, the Senate held a vote Thursday on Cruz\u2019s bill to levy sanctions aimed at Nord Stream 2, a system of gas pipelines from Russia to Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the Senate voted down the bill, Cruz told reporters he will continue to call for votes on other unspecified nominees until Democrats \u201cstop surrendering to Russia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are I believe roughly 10 holds in place right now,\u201d Cruz said. \u201cI would certainly anticipate more will be forthcoming as additional nominations come down the pike. But I am also very happy to continue lifting holds in exchange for progress stopping Russia\u2019s aggression.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t