New Pentagon leadership to be in hands of Senate soon

Federal News Network: Acting Defense Secretary Mark Esper is expected to soon be formally nominated to lead the Pentagon, setting off a complicated leadership replacement shuffle at the highest levels of the Pentagon and the military services.

Eric Chewning, Esper’s chief of staff, told reporters Tuesday that the Senate controls the timing of the confirmation hearing and vote. But if senators act quickly, President Donald Trump’s third defense chief could be confirmed within a week, he said.

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