Navy Secretary Confirmed; Can’t Take Office

According to a recent Chicago Sun story, the Senate confirmed the appointment of Donald Winter as Navy secretary, but he won't formally take over until the current secretary's stalled promotion is cleared in an expected recess appointment by President Bush. Two senators have blocked Navy Secretary Gordon England's confirmation as deputy defense secretary, the Pentagon's second-highest position, creating a logjam in the department's hierarchy. According to the story, Bush will bypass the Senate and install England as deputy secretary within the next four months. The recess appointment would clear the way for Winter, the former corporate vice president of Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, to be formally sworn in as the Navy's top civilian official. Winter will not be sworn in until England moves up. England must continue in his Navy post in order to be eligible for the deputy position. Source: The Chicago Sun