Senate panel approves Trump’s NSA nominee

The Senate Armed Services Committee unanimously approved President Trump’s choice to lead the National Security Agency on Tuesday morning.

The committee held a brief voice vote on the nomination of Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone, before holding a hearing on worldwide threats to the United States featuring testimony from Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and from Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley, the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency.

{mosads}If confirmed, Nakasone will helm both the NSA and the Pentagon’s growing cyber warfare unit, U.S. Cyber Command. Nakasone currently leads Army Cyber Command, a component of Cyber Command. 

Nakasone appeared before the committee for his confirmation hearing last week, during which he acknowledged that foreign nations such as Russia do not face sufficient penalties for targeting the U.S. with malicious activity in cyberspace.  

Nakasone would replace Adm. Michael Rogers, who is expected to retire from his position later this year.

This piece has been updated to clarify that Nakasone leads Army Cyber Command.