Wyden to block confirmation for NSA director, citing lack of experience

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., is moving to halt Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd’s confirmation to run U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency, arguing that the nominee lacks the relevant credentials required for the post.

Rudd currently serves as deputy commander at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and has held other senior leadership roles during his military career. He has not previously held a military cyberintelligence role.

In a letter lodged in the Congressional Record on Wednesday, Wyden — a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee — wrote that Rudd “does not have the background that would allow him to immediately step into” the role of leading the foreign eavesdropping agency and digital combatant command.

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