By NIKKI WENTLING | STARS AND STRIPES Published: February 2, 2021 WASHINGTON – The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee voted Tuesday to advance the nomination of Denis McDonough as the next secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The committee voted for McDonough unanimously, paving the way for his confirmation. The nomination next goes to the Senate floor. It was uncertain Tuesday when the vote would take place. “Though there is a great political divide in this nation, veterans across the country and members on both sides of the aisle are united by a very basic expectation: that the next VA Secretary be an individual of honesty, integrity, and vision,” said Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., the committee chairman, in a statement after the vote.
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Donald Trump’s defense team is set to formally respond to the impeachment charge today, which would typically be the biggest news in Washington. But not any more.
Here’s what else is going on: House Democrats are zeroing in on how to punish Marjorie Taylor Greene over her past controversial remarks, the Senate is tied up in confirming President Joe Biden’s Cabinet and Congress is trying to approve a coronavirus stimulus proposal.
This week in Congress: A new deputy defense secretary, and lingering Fort Hood concerns Kathleen Hicks hosts an event at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. (Photo courtesy of CSIS) As many congressional committees hold their first organizational meetings this week, Senate Armed Services officials will continue their already-started work of the new session with a pair of significant events for the military community. On Thursday, the committee will hold a closed briefing on the Fort Hood command climate survey, with an eye towards reforms at that base and throughout the Army. The base was the site of several high-profile tragedies last year, including the killing of Pfc. Vanessa Guillen last April.
The State Department confirmed a pause in “some” pending arms transfers Wednesday, a day after Secretary of State Antony Blinken
“The department is temporarily pausing the implementation of some pending U.S. defense transfers and sales under Foreign Military Sales and Direct Commercial Sales to allow incoming leadership an opportunity to review,” a State Department spokesperson said.
“This is a routine administrative action typical to most any transition, and demonstrates the administration’s commitment to transparency and good governance, as well as ensuring U.S. arms sales meet our strategic objectives of building stronger, interoperable, and more capable security partners,” the spokesperson added.