No Confirmation Hearing Scheduled Yet for Cara Abercrombie’s Defense Acquisition Post Nomination

U.S. President Joe Biden nominated on Thursday Cara Abercrombie as assistant secretary of defense for acquisition. The role, currently being held by Tanya Skeen in an acting capacity, is responsible for various acquisition programs, including space, intelligence, tactical warfare and business systems. Abercrombie will have to appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee for a confirmation hearing, but no date has been set yet, C4ISRNET reported.

Abercrombie is a coordinator for defense policy and arms control at the National Security Council and serves as a deputy assistant to the president. If confirmed, she would be the first permanent assistant secretary of defense for acquisition since 2021.

The Senate, however, has confirmed only a few Department of Defense nominations and promotions following objections from Sen. Tommy Tuberville regarding a decision by senior Pentagon leaders to provide troops leave and travel expenses to obtain access to abortion. Tuberville had threatened to hold up DOD confirmations over the matter.

The Senate recently did, however, confirm the nomination of Radha Iyengar Plumb as deputy assistant secretary of defense for acquisition.