Rood confirmed as DOD policy chief

The Senate voted 81-7 Wednesday to confirm former Lockheed Martin executive John Rood as the Pentagon's new under secretary of defense for policy.

In advance of the vote, however, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) took to the Senate floor to criticize Rood, and other Pentagon officials, for having extensive backgrounds in the defense industry.

"President Trump has stocked the Pentagon with an unprecedented number of nominees directly from the defense industry," she said. "These nominees will oversee all those government contracts. They will influence which companies get billions in taxpayer dollars and what exactly those companies have to do to collect their checks. Without strict ethics rules and oversight, these nominees have the power to significantly influence the profitability of their former employers -- the same companies that may, once again, be the nominees' future employers after they have finished their government service."

Prior to entering the private sector, Rood spent more than 20 years in the federal government, including as acting under secretary of state for arms control and international security.

During his November confirmation hearing, Rood said he has "valued" his time in the private sector, but feels duty-bound to return to public service.

"My heart is drawn by patriotism to seek to serve my country again alongside the dedicated government servants and military personnel in the Department of Defense," he said.