Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri has injected a new element of contention into Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell’s attempts to confirm two former aides to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), intensifying an ongoing feud between the first-term conservative senator and the seasoned party leader.
In a letter addressed to McConnell on Wednesday, Hawley communicated his desire for additional time to thoroughly assess the qualifications of the McConnell-endorsed nominees. These individuals, Andrew Ferguson and Todd Inman, former aides to McConnell nominated for positions in the FTC and NTSB respectively, were originally set for approval through unanimous consent alongside a group of Biden nominees.
Expressing his concerns in the letter, Hawley cautioned McConnell against agreeing to a negotiated package that could potentially concede too much to the Democrats. Hawley emphasized the need for careful consideration, stating, “If Republicans are planning to install dozens of Biden nominees for positions across the federal government — without a vote — in exchange for just a handful of our own selections, I want to be sure that we get our nominees right.”
Currently, the FTC has three Democratic appointees, leaving the two Republican slots vacant. Similarly, the NTSB has a Biden-appointed chairwoman and three members appointed by former President Trump, with one seat remaining vacant.
Hawley outlined specific areas of inquiry for the nominees, urging them to provide more detailed insights into their views on regulating the tech and rail industries. For Andrew Ferguson, nominated for the FTC, Hawley sought additional information on his stance regarding Big Tech. Likewise, for Todd Inman, under consideration for the NTSB, Hawley requested a more comprehensive articulation of his views on transportation policies, including rail safety and autonomous vehicles.
Notably, Hawley asserted his intention to block the nominees from progressing on the Senate floor until his concerns are adequately addressed. In the ongoing rift between the two senators, McConnell declined to comment on Hawley’s holds as he returned to his office from the Senate floor.
The nominee for the FTC, Andrew Ferguson, currently serving as the solicitor general of Virginia, previously held the position of McConnell’s chief counsel. On the other hand, Todd Inman, nominated for the NTSB, served as the chief of staff to former Trump Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and worked as a campaign aide to McConnell.
The strained relationship between Hawley and McConnell traces back to November of the previous year when Hawley called for a change in Senate Republican leadership and supported Senator Rick Scott’s challenge against McConnell. Their conflicts extended to this month, with a disagreement over an amendment sponsored by Hawley to the annual defense authorization bill. The amendment aimed to expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to cover individuals in St. Louis exposed to improperly stored nuclear waste from the development of the first atomic bomb during World War II. Despite receiving Senate floor approval with 61 votes, McConnell prioritized stripping the amendment in the final negotiations, citing concerns about budget implications and unfunded mandates, a move that further fueled the ongoing discord between the two senators.