{"id":53476,"date":"2021-01-04T01:58:50","date_gmt":"2021-01-04T01:58:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/01\/04\/new-in-2021-confirmation-timing-for-new-dod-va-secretaries-could-be-tricky\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T09:11:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T09:11:22","slug":"new-in-2021-confirmation-timing-for-new-dod-va-secretaries-could-be-tricky","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2021\/01\/04\/new-in-2021-confirmation-timing-for-new-dod-va-secretaries-could-be-tricky\/","title":{"rendered":"New in 2021: Confirmation timing for new DoD, VA secretaries could be tricky"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

President-elect Joe Biden<\/a> announced his picks to lead the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs in early December. When they\u2019ll actually be confirmed into those roles is still unclear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, Senate lawmakers were able to finalize the nominations of the secretaries of defense<\/a> and veterans affairs<\/a> within a few days of President Donald Trump\u2019s inauguration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the uncertainty over control of the Senate has pushed some of that confirmation work back by several weeks. Instead of combing through the candidates\u2019 resumes, Senate leaders are still wondering who will control the chamber in the 117th Congress, with two Georgia seats to be decided in a Jan. 5 runoff.<\/p>\n\n\n\t