President Joe Biden has nominated Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh to lead National Security Agency and Cyber Command after serving as the deputy of the latter since last August, an Air Force official told the Washington Examiner.
An Air Force notice was sent out on Monday announcing his promotion to four-star general and assignment to lead the NSA and Cyber Command, Politico reported.
WHO'S IN, WHO'S OUT, AND WHO'S STILL WAITING TO ANNOUNCE FOR SENATE IN 2024
Haugh previously led the 16th Air Force, or Air Force Cyber, and also served as the director of Cyber Command’s Cyber National Mission Force and as the agency’s director of intelligence. He received his commission as a distinguished graduate of the ROTC program at Lehigh University in 1991.
If confirmed, he will replace Gen. Paul Nakasone, who is expected to step down this year and has led both the NSA and the Cyber Command since 2018. Despite being unanimously confirmed to his position as Cyber Command's No. 2, he could face a difficult confirmation process due to factors unrelated to his promotion.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) has placed a hold on all Department of Defense nominations due to the updated policies it put in place following the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade. In light of many conservative states issuing strong abortion restriction laws, the department announced it would pay for the travel expenses accumulated in the event a service member, or one's loved one, has to travel out of state for the procedure.
The Alabama senator has argued the policy violates the Hyde Amendment, which blocks federal funds from being used for most abortions.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Tuberville has held up nearly 200 military nominations, and the Department of Defense projects approximately 650 general and flag officers will require Senate confirmation between now and the end of the year. Another one expected to come up later this year will be the nomination of Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. to serve as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as Army Gen. Mark Milley's four-year term comes to an end this fall.
DOD officials have warned that Tuberville's hold could affect national security.