Pentagon facing 'lack of clarity' on leadership as Trump White House announces acting defense officials

20 January

Roughly two hours and 40 minutes after President Donald Trump was sworn into office by U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts, the new Trump White House announced some acting Pentagon officials.

But according to Breaking Defense, it is unclear who will serve as defense secretary before a permanent Trump nominee is confirmed.

The Defense Department announcement come at a time when Trump is hoping to persuade U.S. senators to vote in favor of former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, the new president's controversial nominee for defense secretary. In December, Hegseth's ability to win confirmation in the Senate seemed to be in doubt, but Hegseth's chances appeared to be improving after Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) — who previously sounded skeptical about the nomination — announced that she plans to vote to confirm him.

Breaking Defense reports, "With Pete Hegseth, Trump's pick for defense secretary, still working through the Senate confirmation process, the day started with a lack of clarity about who would be serving as the acting defense secretary, as well as the acting heads of the three military departments. That confusion continued for several hours after the inauguration, with spokespeople for the Navy, Air Force, Army and Office of the Secretary of Defense unable to provide the names of the leaders of America's military."

According to Breaking Defense, the acting U.S. Defense Department officials include Robert G. Salesses, deputy director of the Washington Headquarters Services; Gary Ashworth as U.S. Air Force secretary; and Terence Emmert as acting U.S. Navy secretary.

Breaking Defense stresses that Salesses, Ashworth and Emmert "are all non-confirmed appointees — a sign that those at higher levels in the (Defense) Department have exited along with the Biden Administration."

"Now, the defense community waits to see if Trump will act on calls from supporters — including Hegseth — to remove top general officers," Breaking Defense explains. "Among the names being closely watched are Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown."

The publication adds, "In an unprecedented move, Brown's predecessor, Gen. Mark Milley, today was given a preemptive pardon by (former President Joe) Biden hours before leaving the White House to prevent him from being targeted for retribution once Trump took office."

Read the full Breaking Defense article at this link.

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