Senate confirms Norquist as DEPSECDEF

The full Senate has confirmed by unanimous voice vote President Trump's nomination of David Norquist to become deputy defense secretary.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-OK) in a statement released today said Norquist "has demonstrated the managerial skills and strategic leadership needed as the Department of Defense's No. 2 civilian."

Nearly the entire Pentagon senior civilian leadership team in recent months had been serving in an acting capacity, creating complicated questions of succession.

Acting officials included the defense secretary, deputy defense secretary, chief management officer and comptroller. The Army currently has an acting secretary following Mark Esper's transition to defense secretary, while the Air Force is awaiting the nomination of Barbara Barrett.

Navy Secretary Richard Spencer is Senate-confirmed and was directed to serve as acting defense secretary while Esper underwent the nomination process.

Esper, who was confirmed last week, echoed previous statements by lawmakers and Pentagon officials that the unusually high number of senior leadership vacancies in the building is detrimental to the department.

In his statement today, Inhofe said the committee "will continue to consider additional Department of Defense nominees promptly, but with care, as the Senate receives nominations for these important civilian roles."

In related news, the committee held a hearing today to consider the nomination of Navy Vice Adm. Michael Gilday to become the next chief of naval operations, and yesterday Air Force Gen. John Hyten testified before the panel regarding his nomination to become vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The committee late this afternoon approved Hyten's nomination by a 20-7 vote.