Elaine McCusker
Acting Comptroller of the Department of Defense
In office
July 31, 2019 – June 26, 2020
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byDavid Norquist
Succeeded byThomas Harker (acting)
Personal details
BornPekin, Illinois, U.S.
EducationIllinois Central College
University of Dallas (BA)
AwardsNavy Superior Civilian Service Award (2008)
Secretary of Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Award (2011)
Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award (2016)

Elaine A. McCusker is an American government official who served as Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), one of the offices of United States Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense, from 2017 to 2020.[1]

McCusker was nominated by President Donald Trump to become United States Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense in April 2017 and was confirmed on August 1, 2017.[2][3][4] In November 2019, the White House announced that McCusker would be nominated to succeed David Norquist as the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller).[5] On March 2, 2020 it was reported that her nomination was being withdrawn by the White House following reports that in 2019 she had warned that freezing military aid to Ukraine might not be legal.[6]

Early life

McCusker is from Pekin, Illinois,[7] one of the daughters of William and Kathleen Brown McCusker. Her father was chairman of the board of the Illinois Federation for Right to Life.[8] She is a graduate of Peoria Notre Dame High School and Illinois Central College.[7] In 1989 she received a Bachelor of Arts in political philosophy from the University of Dallas, Texas.[1]

Career

McCusker previously worked for the United States Energy Department's Argonne National Laboratory, the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services, the Pentagon Comptroller's office, and the Navy Department. At the Navy Department, she was a special assistant for the Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle program.[7][9]

McCusker contributed to announcements in September 2019 regarding Trump's plan to divert Pentagon funds to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. McCusker announced wall construction could begin as within three months on federally owned land. Construction of the wall on other government or privately owned land would commence at a later date, she noted.[10]

McCusker was identified as one of the federal officials with knowledge of President Trump's effort to keep Ukraine from receiving aid authorized by Congress. Emails that she sent and received regarding the matter were included in documents obtained by the Center for Public Integrity in response to a Freedom of Information Act request.[11] Michael Duffey, a political appointee in White House's Office of Management and Budget (OMB), emailed McCusker and others an hour and a half after Trump's call with Ukrainian leader Zelenksy, requesting they "hold off" on distributing aid to the Ukraine.[12]

McCusker then sent emails to the OMB expressing concern that by withholding funds from the Ukraine, the White House was violating the Impoundment Control Act, which requires that the executive branch spend appropriations that have been approved by Congress.[13]

On June 16, 2020, she announced her resignation as Deputy Under Secretary, effective June 26.[14]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Elaine A. McCusker". Biographies. United States Air Force. March 2018. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  2. ↑ "President Announces Picks for Senior Pentagon Posts" (Press release). United States Department of Defense. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  3. ↑ "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Key Administration Posts". whitehouse.gov (Press release). Office of the Press Secretary. March 16, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2017 – via National Archives.
  4. ↑ Kheel, Rebecca (August 2, 2017). "Navy secretary, seven other Pentagon posts confirmed". The Hill. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  5. ↑ "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to Key Administration Post". whitehouse.gov (Press release). November 6, 2019. Retrieved November 8, 2019 – via National Archives.
  6. ↑ O'Brien, Connor (March 2, 2020). "White House withdraws nomination of Defense official who questioned Ukraine aid freeze". Politico. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 Sampier, Kevin (September 30, 2007). "Pekin woman sings praises of latest combat vehicle". The State Journal-Register (web ed.). Springfield, Illinois. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  8. ↑ "William McCusker". Pekin Daily Times. August 26, 2009. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  9. ↑ Freedberg Jr., Sydney; Clark, Colin (March 16, 2017). "Trump Picks Technocrats, Not Billionaires, For Top Pentagon Posts". Breaking Defense. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Trump Administration Advances Plan to Shift $3.6 Billion in Military Funds to Border Wall". The Wall Street Journal. September 3, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Ukraine aid frozen just after call, files show". Arkansas Democrat Gazette. December 22, 2019.
  12. ↑ Levin, Bess (December 23, 2019). "Report: White House Froze Ukraine Aid 91 Minutes After Trump Asked For a "Favor"". Vanity Fair. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Emails Show Pentagon Official's Concerns Over Ukraine Aid Freeze". The Wall Street Journal (web ed.). January 2, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Statement From Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper on the Resignation of DOD Comptroller Elaine McCusker". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
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