The White House has stalled the confirmation process of a woman whom President Trump himself nominated to a top intelligence post over loyalty concerns.
The White House announced in February Trump’s intention to nominate acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Kathryn Wheelbarger to the position of deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence, the same day he nominated another candidate for a senior defense appointment, whose confirmation hearing took place Tuesday. If confirmed, Wheelbarger would be the second in command overseeing military intelligence at the Pentagon, occupying one of 21 high-level Department of Defense positions that are currently vacant or filled on a temporary basis.
That Wheelbarger spent two years working for the late Sen. John McCain, who feuded with Trump before his death in 2018, is believed to be the source of the delay, three current and former officials told Politico. “Unless you are here to support him personally, he’d rather have gaps,” one former official said.
Trump loyalist John McEntee returned in February to the White House to lead the personnel office with a mandate to purge anti-Trump appointees. One nominee who questioned a White House directive on Ukraine in emails has since been withdrawn, and several candidates put forth by Defense Secretary Mark Esper for another top Pentagon role have been denied.
Speaking to Politico, one administration official defended Wheelbarger’s commitment to the Trump administration, citing as evidence her decision not to testify before Congress during the impeachment process and noting that as acting assistant secretary since November 2018, her tenure with the White House exceeds her time with the Arizona senator.
Wheelbarger has been an “instrumental and a driving force behind the president’s efforts to seek 2% defense funding from NATO allies,” said this official. “She hammered that message repeatedly.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
