Pushing Through (Updated)

UPDATED 6:15 p.m.: Sen. Levin succeeded in obtaining "a unanimous consent agreement on the Senate floor this afternoon to approve six Department of Defense nominees," his office announced.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) said today at a Senate hearing on the Air Force’s fiscal year 2011 budget request that he will work to move the Senate to vote on the nomination of Erin Conaton as Air Force under secretary. Levin also wants holds lifted on other Obama administration picks for Pentagon positions.

“I intend to seek . . . unanimous consent to move those nominations through the Senate,” Levin said. “They've been stalled far too long and it is unconscionable what these holds are doing (to) those that are nominated to fill the central positions. I would hope my colleagues . . . would join in this effort to get these nominees unanimously approved by this committee. It makes it much more difficult for the agencies, in this case the Air Force, to carry out essential functions.”

Conaton’s nomination, as well as those of several other picks for Defense Department posts, has been put on hold by Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL).

Levin also said he wants votes on the other defense nominees: Frank Kendall for principal deputy under secretary of defense for acquisition and technology, Jackalyne Pfannenstiel for assistant secretary of the Navy for installations and environment, retired Lt. Gen. Malcolm O’Neill for assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology and Paul Sanz as Naval general counsel. The nomination of Terry Yonkers as assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations and environment has also been held up.