{"id":135249,"date":"2021-02-04T16:14:06","date_gmt":"2021-02-04T16:14:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smg.go-vip.net\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/02\/04\/familiar-lawmakers-take-gavels-of-defense-panels\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:45:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:45:10","slug":"familiar-lawmakers-take-gavels-of-defense-panels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2021\/02\/04\/familiar-lawmakers-take-gavels-of-defense-panels\/","title":{"rendered":"Familiar faces take gavels of defense panels"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2015 It\u2019s official: Sen. Jack Reed<\/a>, D-R.I., became chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Wednesday as the Senate approved its power-sharing arrangement for the evenly split upper chamber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The long-awaited deal was part of a wave of organizational moves in both chambers that saw some familiar figures like Reed in new roles and some new lawmakers added to the Armed Services committees. They further codify the new status quo in Congress since the Georgia runoff and general elections last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For defense appropriations, the biggest change has yet to be announced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sen. Dick Durbin<\/a>, D-Ill., formerly the ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee\u2019s defense subpanel, reportedly offered<\/a> to forgo the gavel because he also serves as the Senate\u2019s No. 2 Democrat and, as of this week, chairman of the Judiciary Committee. The panel membership has not been set, but its former chairman, Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., is expected to serve as the subpanel\u2019s ranking member.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For defense policy, the biggest but most expected change is that Reed replaces Sen. Jim Inhofe<\/a>, R-Okla., who will become the Senate Armed Services Committee\u2019s ranking member. Reed is expected to steer confirmation for President Joe Biden\u2019s Pentagon nominees, and unveil his own agenda in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reed plans for \u201ca sharp focus on forward-looking policies, programs, platforms, and cyber defense systems that offer the strongest return-on-investment possible in terms of mission effectiveness, operational readiness, and survivability,\u201d his office said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\t