Shelby, Sessions Put Holds on Carter Nomination Over Tanker
Sens. Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions, both Alabama Republicans, late on April 2 put holds on the nomination of Ashton Carter to become the Pentagon's next acquisition chief after a spat with the Pentagon over the U.S. Air Force's tanker contract.
The nomination of Ashton Carter to become the next acquisition chief at the Pentagon is on hold. (ROB CURTIS / STAFF)
According to sources, the senators demanded that Defense Secretary Robert Gates make the tanker decision on best-value grounds; otherwise, they'd put a hold on Carter's nomination.
According to one source, Gates refused to accept the demands to modify the terms. The secretary has said that the requirement for the new planes should be as simple and straightforward as possible, so the Air Force acquires the best aircraft for the lowest cost. The service is now drafting its request for proposals.
Analysts have said modifying the procurement conditions to ask for best value would favor the larger, more capable but more expensive aircraft offered by Airbus and Northrop Grumman, which have pledged to assemble modified A330 jetliners destined for U.S. tanker service at a plant in Alabama. Boeing is offering a modified version of its smaller and less expensive 767 airliner.
"It is of the utmost importance that the new tanker competition be conducted in an open and transparent manner based on a best value process," Shelby said in an April 3 statement. "Before the new Request for Proposal is issued, we should have every assurance from Dr. Carter that the Department of Defense will proceed fairly to ensure our war fighters receive the most capable tanker possible."
In a separate statement, Sessions said, "I still have some unanswered questions about a commitment to a fair and open tanker competition."
The holds came hours before the Senate was to have voted on Carter and two other nominees, Jim Miller and Alexander "Sandy" Vershbow. While Carter was sidelined, Miller was confirmed as the Pentagon's deputy policy chief, and Vershbow cleared to become the next assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs.
Carter will now have to bide his time. Congress returns from recess April 20.
Some fear that after Gates announces major program cuts and changes April 6, other members of Congress will hold Carter's nomination hostage, as well.
For its part, the Defense Department "is working hard to allay the concerns raised by Senators Shelby and Sessions," said Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell.
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