U.S. Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., announced Monday that he will place a hold on all Defense Department civilian appointments and military promotions until the Pentagon provides information Virginia officials requested about its plans to close a major command in Norfolk.
Webb and other Virginia legislators have sharply criticized Defense Secretary Robert Gates for his proposal to shutter the Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, Va., and what the Virginia lawmakers have described as a lack of communication and transparency in the decision-making process.
Webb requested current and historical staff levels in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and a historical comparison of the size of selected major headquarters staffs in the DoD and military departments. In a letter to Gates, though, Webb wrote that he has received only a superficial interim report in response to the requests and no indication of when to expect a more complete reply.
“This failure to respond to a request for basic information that should be readily available is indicative of the lack of cooperation that has characterized the proposal to close the U.S. Joint Forces Command,” said Webb.
