Esper’s defense secretary confirmation hearing planned for Tuesday

Defense News: The Senate Armed Services Committee has agreed to hold a confirmation hearing on July 16 for Mark Esper to be the next defense secretary, if the White House delivers the formal nomination by the day before, Defense News has learned.

The committee has already received Esper’s advance policy questions and background-check details, and committee Chairman Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., has received agreement from committee members to waive the traditional seven-day waiting period between when paperwork arrives at the Senate and when a confirmation hearing begins.

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