{"id":34488,"date":"2019-06-18T19:32:27","date_gmt":"2019-06-18T19:32:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2019\/06\/18\/how-long-will-it-take-to-get-a-new-defense-secretary-now\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T07:15:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T07:15:44","slug":"how-long-will-it-take-to-get-a-new-defense-secretary-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/congress\/2019\/06\/18\/how-long-will-it-take-to-get-a-new-defense-secretary-now\/","title":{"rendered":"How long will it take to get a new defense secretary now?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With acting Defense Secretary Patrick <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2019\/06\/18\/shanahan-out-acting-defense-secretary-withdraws-his-confirmation-bid\/\" target=\"_blank\">Shanahan\u2019s sudden withdrawal <\/a>from the Senate confirmation process, Pentagon planners and nervous lawmakers are facing the reality that the world\u2019s largest military <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/congress\/2019\/03\/28\/when-will-trump-nominate-a-permanent-defense-secretary\/\" target=\"_blank\">might be without a permanent leader<\/a> for several more months to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFor the sake of our national security, we need a confirmed Secretary of Defense \u2014 not just an acting,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2018\/09\/05\/inhofe-takes-over-as-new-senate-armed-services-chairman\/\" target=_blank>Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe<\/a>, R-Okla., said in a statement after Shanahan\u2019s announcement Tuesday. \u201cI hope we can get to that point as quickly as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shanahan, 56, has served as the temporary head of the Defense Department since Jan. 1, when then Defense Secretary Jim Mattis was forced out of office ahead of his planned February departure date.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2019\/06\/18\/shanahan-out-acting-defense-secretary-withdraws-his-confirmation-bid\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP_19158587144028.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Shanahan out: Acting defense secretary withdraws his confirmation bid amid family issues<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Trump announced his latest pick to lead the Pentagon will instead leave the top military job.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the last several months, lawmakers have offered general support for Shanahan\u2019s work in office but also repeatedly emphasized the need for a permanent replacement to guide military planning and priorities. President Donald Trump\u2019s announced nomination of Shanahan to that role last month calmed many of those concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now, with the future of the leadership role again uncertain and tensions with Iran on the rise, those worries are resurfacing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis job should be filled in a matter of a few weeks, not months,\u201d said Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, and ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee. \u201cThe uncertainty surrounding this vacant office encourages our enemies and unsettles our allies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOur country and our troops are facing an unprecedented array of threats around the world. We urgently need a secretary of Defense that has the confidence of the president, the Congress, and the country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump announced that Army Secretary Mark Esper would step into the acting defense secretary role in coming days. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said praised Esper as a worthy temporary replacement, but added: \u201cWe\u2019d be better off by far to have a secretary of Defense confirmed by the Senate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Inhofe has repeatedly urged Trump to nominate a permanent replacement for Mattis and warned Tuesday that a temporary defense secretary\u2019s impact is lessened, particularly in interactions overseas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s bad,\u201d Inhofe told reporters. \u201cWhen you have the word \u2018acting\u2019 after your name, you\u2019re not it, and you\u2019re perceived by other countries as not being the person in charge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shanahan withdrew from consideration amid reports of past domestic violence incidents in his family. Inhofe said Trump called to inform him personally, two hours before the announcement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere were some accusations that were different from before,\u201d Inhofe said. \u201cWhat he shared with me was they both agreed it\u2019s going to get worse before it gets better, so just bail out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But several lawmakers on the Senate Armed Services Committee said they were not told of the allegations before the Senate confirmed Shanahan to the deputy post, One senior committee member \u2014 Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. \u2014 noted that \u201cI would think the background check should have detected it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Inhofe indicated he had known about the allegations in a general sense. He defended the prior work, noting \u201cthere\u2019s only so much you can do\u201d and noting the reviews for most Pentagon jobs have shorter timelines than the defense secretary post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Though Trump did not tell Inhofe he planned to offer Esper the formal nomination, Inhofe threw his support behind that idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019ve known him for a long time, I think he\u2019s good. I\u2019ve been in the field with him to see how he does with troops, and he\u2019s exceptionally good,\u201d Inhofe said, adding, \u201cThe president was very positive that he\u2019s going to be acting. He thinks highly of him and he knows I do too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the Senate\u2019s No. 2 Democrat, Sen. Dick Durbin, of Illinois, noted that even if Esper is the pick, the confirmation for a new nominee will likely take \u201cmonths,\u201d as there are \u201ccritical questions to be asked,\u201d about the administration\u2019s national security policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;t\u2019s a critically important position. It\u2019s one of the top positions in our government. Filling it with someone who is competent, honest and has the right values is important,\u201d Durbin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Congress is scheduled to be out for most of August, and getting the proper background checks and paperwork for a new nominee is unlikely to take place before then, even if Trump were to make a pick quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/2019\/06\/18\/test-of-resolve-credibility-in-nuke-deal-fallout-as-us-iran-edge-closer-to-war\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"203\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19168739394938.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Test of resolve, credibility in nuke deal fallout as US-Iran edge closer to war<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Iran announced it was breaking compliance with the international agreement that keeps it from making nuclear weapons and the Trump administration followed by ordering 1,000 more troops to the Middle East. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is scheduled to visit MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida to meet with the heads of U.S. Central Command and U.S, Special Operations Command to discuss regional security ongoing operations.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When lawmakers return in September, they\u2019ll also be facing several deadlines tied to the end of the fiscal year, including a budget impasse which could result in a partial government shutdown if a funding deal isn\u2019t reached. That could further delay work on a defense nomination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before the start of this year, the Defense Department hadn\u2019t gone without a permanent leader for more than 60 days since restructuring as a Cabinet level agency in the late 1940s. Tuesday marked the 168th day without one since Mattis\u2019 departure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In response to the Shanahan news, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., blasted the administration for creating another layer of national security concerns in an already unstable world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTo have no secretary of defense at this time is appalling,\u201d he said. \u201cIt shows the chaos in this administration. They have so many empty positions, revolving doors in the most sensitive of security positions. Every American should worry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RepAndyKimNJ\/status\/1141039842056450048\">https:\/\/twitter.com\/RepAndyKimNJ\/status\/1141039842056450048<\/a><\/blockquote><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This is the longest period the US has gone without a confirmed Secretary of Defense. At a time when we\u2019re sending more troops to the Middle East and navigating the situation with Iran, stable and long-term leadership is mission critical.<\/p>&mdash; Rep. Jason Crow (@RepJasonCrow) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RepJasonCrow\/status\/1141044378833739778?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 18, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With Patrick Shanahan&#8217;s sudden withdrawal to take over the Pentagon, military leaders could wait months for a replacement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":74978,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":8,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[8,160,36,19],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3424,3446],"class_list":["post-34488","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-congress","category-daily-news-roundup","category-newsletters","category-pentagon"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"SFSFESILJBBV3OFWSM5UCKAY2Q","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2019\/06\/18\/how-long-will-it-take-to-get-a-new-defense-secretary-now\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How long will it take to get a new defense secretary now? - Defense News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"With Patrick Shanahan&#039;s sudden withdrawal to take over the Pentagon, military leaders could wait months for a replacement.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How long will it take to get a new defense secretary now?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"With Patrick Shanahan&#039;s sudden withdrawal to take over the Pentagon, military leaders could wait months for a replacement.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" 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