Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) said today she placed a procedural "hold" on President Bush's nominee to lead the Army Corps of Engineers, Lt. Gen. Robert Van Antwerp. Landrieu said she did not dispute Van Antwerp's credentials, but added that she wants to be assured that VanAntwerp and the Bush administration "are ready to get serious about reforming the Army Corps' bureaucracy." Landrieu notified Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) about the hold in a letter dated March 29, but didn't disclose her move publicly until today.
The Senate Armed Services Committee cleared Van Antwerp's nomination on March 15, but Landrieu's hold will delay action by the full Senate, which is in recess until April 10. If confirmed as the Corps' commander, he would succeed Lt. Gen. Carl Strock, who announced his resignation last August citing personal reasons.