The Department of Defense is navigating a leadership vacuum as the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump approaches. With a potential delay in the confirmation of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, military chiefs are preparing to temporarily assume the roles of acting service secretaries.
As the January 20, 2025 inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump approaches, the Department of Defense is facing a unique situation with numerous key positions left vacant. With the customary departure of political appointees at noon EST on Inauguration Day, hundreds of defense posts, including dozens requiring Senate confirmation, will be open.
This includes the positions of Secretary of Defense, each of the three service secretaries (Army, Navy, and Air Force), along with their deputies and senior policy staff.While President-elect Trump has nominated Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense, the full Senate vote may not occur until days after the inauguration. This leaves a potential gap in leadership, prompting officials to prepare for the possibility of military chiefs temporarily assuming the roles of acting service secretaries. This is a rare occurrence, but not unprecedented in US history.In 1993, when Bill Clinton became president, Adm. Frank Kelso, the Navy Chief, was asked to serve as acting Secretary of the Navy due to the lack of civilian candidates stepping up. The most recent instance was in 2021 when David Norquist, the deputy secretary of defense under Trump, acted as Secretary for the two-day period between Biden's inauguration and Lloyd Austin's Senate confirmation. There are also historical precedents like President Barack Obama asking his Republican predecessor's defense secretary, Robert Gates, to remain in the position in 2009. The current situation emphasizes the importance of civilian control of the military, a cornerstone principle, and highlights the contingency plans in place to ensure seamless operations during transitions of power
Defense Department Leadership Vacuum Pete Hegseth Acting Service Secretaries Civilian Control Of The Military Donald Trump Inauguration
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