Eric Fanning, First Openly Gay Army Secretary,

Confirmed by U.S. Senate

BY HALIMAH ABDULLAHAND COURTNEY KUBE May 18 2016, 8:10 am ET
HTTP://WWW.NBCNEWS.COM/NEWS/US-NEWS/FIRST-OPENLY-GAY-ARMY-SECRETARYCONFIRMED-N575661

Eric Fanning at the 30th Space Symposium Corporate Partnership dinner in

Colorado Springs, Colorado, in May 2014. Duncan Wood / U.S. Air Force via AP
file
Eric Fanning, first openly gay Army secretary, confirmed by Senate2:20
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In another historic moment for the Obama administration, the Senate on Tuesday
evening confirmed the long-stalled nomination of Eric Fanning to be Army secretary.
Fanning becomes the first openly gay leader of any U.S. military service a
milestone not lost on gay rights groups, coming five years after the repeal of "don't
ask, don't tell," which had prohibited gay and lesbian service members from being
open about their sexuality.
"Eric Fanning's historic confirmation today as Secretary of the U.S. Army is a
demonstration of the continued progress towards fairness and equality in our nation's
armed forces," Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin said in a statement.
Related: Obama to Nominate Eric Fanning for Army, Would Be 1st Openly Gay Service
Chief
Fanning previously served as the Army secretary's principal adviser on management
and operation. He was undersecretary of the Air Force from April 2013 to February
2015, and for half a year he was the acting secretary of the Air Force.
"I'm honored by today's Senate confirmation and thrilled to return to lead the total
Army team," Fanning said in a statement Tuesday night.
The voice vote to confirm, Fanning, 47, came after Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas,
dropped his opposition in a dispute over Obama administration efforts to close the
prison at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and transfer detainees to
the United States.

Senate Confirms Fanning as Secretary of the Army1:30

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Roberts said he received reassurances from the administration in private discussions

that the clock has run out on moving detainees to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-California, was among the first politicians to congratulate
Fanning publicly Tuesday, tweeting that he is "capable, experienced & will lead with
honor!"
A slate of senators from both parties joined in the praise for Fanning. Sen. Sherrod
Brown, D-Ohio, tweeted that Fanning's selection is "an historic moment for #LGBT
servicemembers," while Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, tweeted that he "appreciated
(Fanning's) recognition of Alaska's strategic importance & need for larger
@USArmy."
Related: First Openly Gay Army Secretary Nominee Stalled by Single Senator
Fanning's path to the post began roughly eight months ago, but it was stymied when
Roberts held up confirmation.
"Let me be very clear on this as a veteran, a Marine I support Mr. Eric Fanning
for this post," Roberts said on the Senate floor late last month. "If the White House
calls and assures me that terrorists held at Guantanamo will not come to Fort
Leavenworth, I will release the hold immediately."
White House officials suggested that Roberts was grandstanding, and fellow
senators pleaded with him to lift his hold. Sen. John McCain, chairman of the Armed
Services Committee who calls Roberts a "good friend" took the floor last month
and urged him to move the process along.
Watch: Sen. Pat Roberts Discuss Eric Fanning's Nomination
The pushback centered on the president's announcement of a long-anticipated pitch
to Congress in February to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. The
Obama administration is considering 13 locations across the country, including
seven existing prison facilities in Colorado, South Carolina and Kansas and six
additional sites on current military bases.
Related: Guantanamo Bay: Obama Announces Plan to Close Controversial Detention
Facility
A number of lawmakers particularly Republicans balked at the president's
proposals. But Roberts was especially entrenched in his opposition. In March, he
introduced a Senate resolution to reject any efforts to transfer detainees from
Guantanamo Bay to U.S. facilities.
After changing his mind to allow Fanning's confirmation to move forward, Roberts
reiterated his belief on the Senate floor Tuesday that he always considered Fanning

the right person to lead the military's largest branch, which has about 470,000 active
troops.
"He will be a tremendous leader as Army secretary and will do great by our soldiers
at Fort Leavenworth and Fort Riley," Roberts said before the vote.

HALIMAH ABDULLAH