Senate Armed Services Committee backs off 'paper hearings'

The Senate Armed Services Committee, which must approve key nominations for the new Navy secretary and Pentagon inspector general, has decided to postpone plans to hold remote "paper hearings" until the COVID-19 situation becomes more clear, especially since the Defense Department has "struggled" to comply.

"When the committee first laid out the concept of 'paper hearings,' we understood that, being in uncharted territory, we would remain flexible and re-assess the process as conditions changed," the committee said in a statement. "Recognizing the additional burden on the Department of Defense at this critical time, Chairman Inhofe and Ranking Member Reed have agreed to postpone future paper hearings until the Committee has more clarity on the COVID-19 situation."

The statement notes DOD has "struggled" to respond in a timely manner to recent questions submitted for the Army's paper hearing on the budget. The panel, however, still intends to post the Army's responses as soon as they are received.

But the committee has postponed a paper hearing scheduled for today on the posture of the Energy Department and the nuclear arsenal.

"As you would expect, the timing or format for upcoming nomination hearings are being discussed in the context of guidance from" federal health officials, the Senate majority leader and the local government, the committee said.

Nominations are a key part of the committee's duties and the Pentagon is facing a record number of vacancies in senior posts. The situation became more dire this week with the abrupt resignation of acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper has asked the committee to move as quickly as possible to approve the nomination of U.S. Ambassador to Norway Ken Braithwaite to be Navy secretary. Braithwaite would then still need to be confirmed by the full Senate.

The committee must also approve the nomination of Jason Abend to be Pentagon inspector general. Until then, Sean O'Donnell, the Environmental Protection Agency's inspector general, will serve as the acting DOD IG in addition to his current duties at EPA.

Meanwhile, Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-OK) is committed to the goal of completing work on the fiscal year 2021 defense authorization bill by the end of May, but will remain "flexible," the committee said.

"At this point, no decisions have been made, but as this crisis evolves, the committee will announce changes to the anticipated markup schedule," the committee said.

Meanwhile, the House Armed Services Committee is facing similar issues because of COVID-19, but hopes to have it ready for consideration by May 1.