Nomination Sent to the Senate – Presidential Actions

10/21/2025

Nominations & Appointments

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Action Summary

Nomination Sent to the Senate:
- Nominations & Appointments (October 21, 2025):
  - Judicial Appointments:
    William J. Crain (Louisiana) for U.S. District Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana (vice Eldon E. Fallon, retired);
    Alexander C. Van Hook (Louisiana) for U.S. District Judge, Western District of Louisiana (vice Elizabeth Erny Foote, retired).
  - U.S. Marshals:
    Brian Barber (Louisiana) for Western District of Louisiana for a four‐year term (vice Henry Lee Whitehorn, Sr., term expired);
    Brian Gootkin (Montana) for District of Montana for a four‐year term;
    James Stuart (Minnesota) for District of Minnesota for a four‐year term.
  - Department of Defense:
    Brian Birdwell (Texas) as Assistant Secretary of Defense (vice Christopher Joseph Lowman);
    Additionally, Gregory LoGerfo (Massachusetts), a career Senior Foreign Service officer, is nominated as Coordinator for Counterterrorism with ambassadorial rank (vice Elizabeth H. Richard).
  - Diplomatic and Other Key Appointments:
    John Breslow (Arizona) as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Cyprus;
    Wesley Brooks (Florida) as Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (vice Monica P. Medina, resigned);
    Edward Eppler (Connecticut) as Chief Financial Officer at the Department of Transportation (vice Victoria Marie Baecher Wassmer, resigned).
  - U.S. Attorney Positions:
    Gregory Gilmore (Illinois) for the Central District of Illinois for a four‐year term (vice Gregory K. Harris);
    Thomas Govan, Jr. (Alabama) for the Middle District of Alabama for a four‐year term (vice Louis V. Franklin, Sr., term expired);
    Kevin Holmes (Arkansas) for the Western District of Arkansas for a four‐year term (vice Duane A. Kees, term expired);
    Ryan Raybould (Texas) for the Northern District of Texas for a four‐year term (vice Leigha Simonton);
    Phillip Williams, Jr. (Alabama) for the Northern District of Alabama for a four‐year term (vice John E. Town, term expired).
Withdrawals Sent to the Senate:
- Jeffrey Bornstein (Florida) for Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), originally sent on May 6, 2025, withdrawn (vice Michael J. McCord, resigned).
- Kevin O’Farrell (Florida) for Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education at the Department of Education, originally sent on February 11, 2025, withdrawn (vice Scott Stump).

Risks & Considerations

The nominations and appointments listed are primarily for judicial and federal positions, which may not directly impact Vanderbilt University. However, changes in the judiciary could influence legal interpretations that affect higher education policies, such as Title IX or immigration laws.
The appointment of an Assistant Secretary of Defense and an Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs could signal shifts in defense and environmental policies. These changes might indirectly affect research funding and collaboration opportunities for Vanderbilt, particularly in areas related to defense and environmental sciences.
Withdrawals of nominations for positions within the Department of Defense and the Department of Education could indicate potential instability or shifts in policy direction, which may affect federal funding priorities and educational policies that impact the university.
Vanderbilt University should monitor these appointments for any changes in federal policies that could impact research funding, compliance requirements, or educational programs.

Impacted Programs

Vanderbilt Law School may need to stay informed about changes in the judiciary that could affect legal education and practice, particularly in areas related to federal law and policy.
The Office of Federal Relations at Vanderbilt might need to engage with new appointees to advocate for the university’s interests in research funding and educational policy.
Research Centers focused on environmental and defense-related studies may need to adjust their strategies based on potential shifts in federal priorities and funding opportunities.

Financial Impact

While the direct financial impact on Vanderbilt University is minimal, changes in federal appointments could influence the broader funding landscape, particularly in research and development sectors.
Potential shifts in defense and environmental policies could open new funding opportunities or require adjustments in existing research programs to align with federal priorities.
The university may need to consider strategic partnerships or advocacy efforts to ensure continued access to federal research grants and educational funding.

Relevance Score: 2 (Minor considerations for the university to address, primarily related to monitoring potential policy shifts and their indirect impacts.)

Key Actions

Vanderbilt’s Office of Federal Relations should monitor the confirmation process of key appointments, particularly those related to the Department of Education and Department of Defense, as these could impact federal funding and educational policies that affect the university.
The Department of Political Science could analyze the implications of these nominations on federal judicial and administrative priorities, providing insights that could inform Vanderbilt’s strategic planning and policy advocacy efforts.
Vanderbilt Law School may consider hosting discussions or panels on the potential impacts of new judicial appointments on legal precedents and practices, enhancing its role as a thought leader in legal education.

Opportunities

The nomination of a new Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs presents an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s environmental and scientific research departments to engage with federal initiatives and potentially secure collaborative research opportunities.
The appointment of a new Chief Financial Officer at the Department of Transportation could open avenues for Vanderbilt’s engineering and transportation research programs to align with federal transportation priorities and funding opportunities.

Relevance Score: 3 (Some adjustments are needed to processes or procedures to align with potential changes in federal priorities and opportunities.)

Average Relevance Score: 2

Timeline for Implementation

February 11, 2025 – Withdrawal of Kevin O’Farrell’s nomination sent to the Senate.
May 6, 2025 – Withdrawal of Jeffrey Bornstein’s nomination sent to the Senate.
October 21, 2025 – Nominations and appointments (including district judges, U.S. Marshals, U.S. Attorneys, ambassadors, and cabinet-level posts) are to be processed.

Relevance Score: 1

Impacted Government Organizations

Federal Judiciary (U.S. District Courts): The nominations for United States District Judges in the Eastern and Western Districts of Louisiana impact the federal judicial branch and its district courts.
Department of Justice (DOJ): Multiple nominations for United States Attorneys and United States Marshals across various districts (Illinois, Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, Minnesota, Louisiana, Montana) fall under the DOJ.
Department of Defense (DoD): The nomination for an Assistant Secretary of Defense and the withdrawal of a nomination for Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) affect the DoD.
Department of State: The nominations for Ambassador to Cyprus, Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, and Coordinator for Counterterrorism bring the State Department into focus.
Department of Transportation (DOT): The nomination for Chief Financial Officer of the DOT highlights its involvement.
Department of Education: The withdrawal of the nomination for Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education impacts the Department of Education.

Relevance Score: 3 (Six separate government organizations are impacted by these nominations and withdrawals.)

Responsible Officials

N/A – The text is a list of nominations and withdrawals sent to the Senate, and there are no specific directives that require implementation by designated officials.

Relevance Score: 1 (The actions pertain solely to nominations and do not involve implementation directives affecting agency or Cabinet leadership.)