Colorado Dem threatens to hold Pentagon nominees over Space Command HQ (The Federal Times)

Colorado Dem threatens to hold Pentagon nominees over Space Command HQ – By Bryant Harris (The Federal Times) / Jan 24, 2023

Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled Senator Bennet’s name name in certain instances.

WASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers spent the last year stalling President Joe Biden’s defense nominees, but the latest threat to filling the Pentagon’s top jobs is coming from the president’s own party.

Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., said he’s threatening to delay the six remaining Pentagon nominees because Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin refuses to meet with him over the Trump administration’s decision to move U.S. Space Command from its current location in Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama.

The potential roadblock comes after the Senate made significant progress on its Pentagon confirmation backlog, confirming at least four long-stalled Defense Department nominees in December. Then on Monday, the Senate voted 60-35 to confirm Brendan Owen as assistant secretary of defense for energy and installations in its first floor vote of the year.

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