Gates: Keeper

/ January 7, 2009 at 5:00 AM

Defense Secretary Robert Gates might not need to be confirmed by the Senate, but that doesn't mean he won't have to face the Senate Armed Services Committee soon.

According to a notice just sent out by the panel, Gates will be the only witness at a Jan. 27 hearing called "To receive testimony on the challenges facing the Department of Defense."

UPDATE: A source on the committee confirms that the hearing is in fact in lieu of a confirmation sit-down.

52827