Openly Gay Eric Fanning Finally Has A Confirmation Hearing Date For Army Secretary

After months of waiting, openly gay Eric Fanning will finally get a confirmation hearing for his nomination as Army Secretary in the U.S. Senate.

Via The Hill:

Fanning was nominated in September, but was designated “acting” Army Secretary when then-Army Secretary John McHugh retired in October.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) told reporters last week he raised concerns with the administration that Fanning serving as “acting” secretary without being confirmed violated the Vacancies Act.

“I wasn’t going to have a hearing while they were in violation of the law, that’s you know sort of fundamental in the way I do business,” he told reporters on Monday.

Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) has threatened to block Fanning’s confirmation should the vote reach the full senate. Roberts plans to block the confirmation over President Obama’s intentions to close Guantanamo.

Fanning has previously served as Acting Army Secretary as well as chief of staff to the Secretary of Defense and Under Secretary of the Air Force.

Eric Fanning’s confirmation hearing is set for Thursday at 9:30 A.M.