Senate Confirms Michael Connor As ASA-CW

Amid Washington deadlocks, some positive news broke November 4 as Michael Connor was confirmed as assistant secretary of the Army (civil works) by the U.S. Senate by a vote of 92-5.

U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, led a bipartisan majority in the Senate to confirm Connor. Prior to the vote, Carper spoke on the Senate floor in support of Connor’s nomination.

“The Corps of Engineers Civil Works program is the nation’s primary provider of water resources infrastructure, and with the increasing impacts of climate change, having someone of Mr. Connor’s caliber at the Corps is critical,” Carper said. “Mr. Connor will lead efforts that dramatically impact every corner of this country—from coastal to inland to small, disadvantaged, rural and tribal communities. It is critically important we get Mr. Connor confirmed now.”

Connor was nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as ASA for civil works earlier this year. However, his nomination was delayed due to several Senate holds on U.S. Department of Defense nominees. 

Connor brings with him significant administrative and Capitol Hill experience. He worked on Capitol Hill from 2001 to 2009 as staff counsel to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Additionally, from 2009 to 2014, Connor served as commissioner at the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation and served as deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior from 2017 to 2017. 

Connor is currently a partner with the law firm of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr. Connor is expected to assume the ASA civil works position within two weeks.