The Boeing tanker-lease controversy evidently no longer is a threat to confirmation of Michael Wynne as Air Force Secretary. That, at least, is the word from Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee. According to Levin, Wynne appears likely to have clear sailing when he faces the panel, which is supposed to hold a hearing on his nomination today. The link between the tanker deal and Wynne was always a tenuous one, more smoke than substance, but some Senators had seized upon it as a club. Levin, one of the Senate’s most astute politicians, wryly told reporters at a private meeting on Wednesday, “Somehow, I’m under the impression that that’s no longer a problem.” Wynne would replace acting SECAF Pete Geren.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
