Senate approves McHugh

WASHINGTON — After months of delay, the Senate on Wednesday night quietly confirmed Rep. John M. McHugh as the next secretary of the Army.

Mr. McHugh's confirmation came after two senators from Kansas dropped procedural objections that had kept the Senate from considering several nominees for defense- and homeland security-related posts.

He was approved by unanimous consent, meaning no vote was taken. Indeed, his name was not even mentioned — Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., offered several nominations by number, no objections were voiced, and the Senate quickly moved on to other business.

In that quick moment, Mr. McHugh's nearly 17-year career in Congress essentially ended, although he must go through the formality of resigning his seat. He becomes the top civilian official at the Army, implementing policies and laws that he helped create during years on the House Armed Services Committee. His last post on the committee was as its ranking Republican.

"It was a bit like running in mud for a bit," Mr. McHugh said Wednesday night, reflecting on the holding pattern his nomination had taken.

He officially becomes Army secretary when President Obama receives written notice of the Senate action and signs a "warrant" that makes the appointment. Mr. McHugh said that it is not clear when that will happen but that he expects to be in his Pentagon office next week.

Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., who introduced the congressman at his confirmation hearing earlier this summer, said in a statement Wednesday night, "Given Congressman's McHugh's stellar qualifications and his dedication to our soldiers and our nation, it is good news that his nomination has gone through. It makes all New Yorkers proud that he is serving his nation in this position."

With Mr. McHugh's resignation from the House, the race to replace him in Congress can sharpen. Gov. David A. Paterson has said he will set the date for a special election once Mr. McHugh vacates the seat; it could fall on Election Day in November.

State Assemblywoman Dierdre K. Scozzafava, the GOP nominee running for his seat, praised him in a statement as "the right man for the job, at the right time" and said, "Fortunately, in this scenario, the 23rd Congressional District's loss is a gain for all Americans, particularly our military personnel."

The Senate's action ended speculation that Mr. McHugh's confirmation might come down to a roll call vote on the floor, although there has been little doubt he would be approved. That seemed the likely scenario if Sens. Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts, Republicans of Kansas, did not lift their hold on the nominations.

The two senators said they were blocking the nominations to voice objections to the possible relocation of terrorism detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to Leavenworth, Kan.

The senators' action held up Mr. McHugh's nomination for weeks, including over the August recess. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates had expressed frustration over the delay, saying the Army needed its top civilian official at wartime.

On Wednesday, Mr. Brownback and Mr. Roberts announced they were no longer concerned that detainees would be sent to Kansas. They announced in the afternoon that they had dropped their roadblock, clearing the way for quick action.

Like anyone starting a new job, Mr. McHugh will take on tasks related to orientation, and he will pose for an official portrait.

"But there's not a lot of time for that. We're a nation at war," Mr. McHugh said.

He will immediately step into dicey deliberations about U.S. strategy in Afghanistan. Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has urged additional troops beyond the more than 20,000 President Obama has promised, but Mr. Obama faces growing public disapproval with the war as well as criticism from some liberals and conservatives that the war isn't worth fighting.

Mr. McHugh has generally supported increased troop numbers in Afghanistan and, earlier, in Iraq.

He also steps directly into some of the challenges he has cited in the Army, including the difficult task of boosting recruiting while holding to standards for education, test scores and other factors required of new enlistees. The Army also has been plagued by increasing numbers of suicides. All of those are personnel policies Mr. McHugh dealt with deeply on the Armed Services Committee.

He also may be forced to confront renewed discussion of the death of professional football player and Army Ranger Pat Tillman by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004. The Army's cover-up of the circumstances of his death, and the withholding of information from his family, is detailed in a new book by Jon Krakauer, "Where Men Win Glory."

The Army has never admitted to the "elaborate conspiracy" alleged by Mr. Krakauer, based upon his interviews and research.

Mr. McHugh said Wednesday night that he has not been briefed by administration officials on the book's allegations, some of which shed new light on the story, but that he expects to be upon taking office.