Key policy moves put spotlight on Shanahan as potential SECDEF

By Tony Bertuca / March 12, 2019 at 5:00 AM
Acting Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan is angling to become permanent Pentagon chief, with his closest supporters highlighting his role in key areas, like navigating internal politics to deliver a final Space Force proposal, helping to engineer billions in budget increases and working to pivot President Trump away from planned troop withdrawals in the Middle East that had initially alarmed military leaders . But Shanahan's potential nomination has been met with skepticism on Capitol Hill, with lawmakers and staffers voicing reservations...

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