Committee Approves Johnson to GSA

On Monday, the Senate Committee for Homeland Security and Government Affairs approved by unanimous voice vote the nomination of Martha Johnson to be GSA administrator. Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., praised Johnson for her experience and firsthand knowledge of GSA:

President Obama has made a wise choice in nominating her as GSA administrator. With the strong leadership Ms. Johnson will bring, GSA can ensure that the federal government is using cutting-edge technology across all operations to make buildings more energy efficient, lower costs, better engage with the public and detect and defend against cyberattacks.

Johnson's approval by the committee is not surprising, as she was largely spared from rigorous questioning at her nomination hearing last week. However, ranking member Susan Collins, R-Maine, repeated her concerns about GSA's shortage of acquisition personnel and oversight of federal procurement in a written statement:

The federal government must also invest significantly in its acquisition workforce. As our contract spending continues to increase dramatically, our contracting workforce continues to shrink. These factors have strained the federal government's acquisition workforce and greatly increased the risk of acquisition failures. These are just some of the many critical challenges awaiting the next administrator at GSA.

Johnson's nomination will now head to the full Senate for confirmation. There is no indication it will meet significant resistance, unlike that of Census Bureau director nominee Robert Groves, which was placed on hold for unknown reasons by the GOP last week.