Senate Finally Sets Confirmation Hearing For Openly Gay US Army Secretary Nominee Eric Fanning

The Hill reports:

A Senate confirmation hearing for Eric Fanning, President Obama’s pick for Army secretary, is now scheduled for next week, months after he was nominated. Fanning stepped aside as acting Army secretary last week, after senators raised concerns that he was in the position without being yet confirmed.

The confirmation hearing for Fanning, who would be the first openly gay service secretary if confirmed, is scheduled for Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Fanning would then have to be confirmed by the full Senate. Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) has vowed to block Fanning’s confirmation over the president’s plan to transfer Guantánamo detainees to a U.S. location that could potentially be in his state.

Fanning served as USAF Undersecretary from 2013 – 2015.