McHugh Confirmed as Army Secretary

WASHINGTON -- A Republican congressman from upstate New York is the new secretary of the Army.

The Senate confirmed John McHugh's nomination by voice vote late Wednesday.

McHugh, the top minority member of the House Armed Services Committee, will join another Republican at the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who is a holdover from the Bush administration.

Obama named McHugh for the Army's top civilian spot in June, but approval was blocked by Kansas Sens. Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts, angry over the prospect of Guantanamo detainees being sent to their home state. They changed their position Wednesday afternoon after discussions with the administration led them to the conclusions that the detainees would be sent elsewhere.

McHugh was first elected in 1993 to represent the district that includes his hometown of Watertown.

The Senate also confirmed Joseph Westphal as an undersecretary of the Army and Juan Garcia III as an assistant secretary of the Navy.