Senate confirms Mulvaney as OMB chief

The Senate voted 51-49 to confirm Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-SC) as the new chief of the White House Office of Management and Budget.

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) was the only Republican to vote against Mulvaney because he believes that, as a committed deficit hawk, Mulvaney will oppose efforts to increase defense spending.

Mulvaney, who repeatedly voted to cut defense spending as a member of the House, said during confirmation hearings he would support any plans President Trump put forth to increase the military budget, but would advocate cuts in non-defense spending to pay for them.

Mulvaney has also said he supports eliminating the Pentagon's Overseas Contingency Operations acocunt, which some analysts think might be the only mechanism available to increase defense spending above the caps mandated by the 2011 Budget Control Act.