Fourth SECDEF shake-up

President Trump’s decision to slow-walk to the installation of a permanent defense secretary, an obscure federal staffing law - Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 – has left the Pentagon poised to get its fourth leader since the end of December. Acting Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper, who took over two weeks ago, and has been nominated for the permanent post, will soon have to relinquish the “acting” position because that federal law bars nominees from serving in an acting capacity as they go through the Senate confirmation. This new shake-up may leave Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer to run day-to-day operations at DoD for at least a few weeks. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.) has long argued that acting defense chiefs simply don’t carry the policy weight internationally and lack the authority of a permanent SECDEF who speaks for the president. Inhofe told The Washington Times that he believes Esper is likely to be confirmed before August. (Source: Washington Times 06/30/19)