WASHINGTON — The US Senate is poised to confirm Ash Carter as the next defense secretary — possibly unanimously — likely the chamber’s last legislative act before beginning a week-long recess.
The Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday voted unanimously to send the former deputy defense secretary and Pentagon acquisition chief’s nomination to the full Senate.
There has been virtually no opposition to the Yale-educated physicist, who would take over for Chuck Hagel after a lackluster run as defense secretary.
During his two-month confirmation process, delayed several weeks after he had back surgery, Republicans and Democrats praised Carter as thoroughly qualified to run the Pentagon.
Some lawmakers, led by SASC Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., doubt the incoming secretary will have much sway over the Obama administration’s national security policies. McCain, citing complaints from two former Obama defense secretaries, says the White House micromanages policy decisions.
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McCain, however, said last week Carter should be able to “manage the Pentagon” as well as anyone could, given his previous stints in its No. 2 and No. 3 civilian leadership posts.
Obama’s second defense secretary, Leon Panetta, was confirmed 100-0 by the full Senate. Carter could make a run at an unanimous confirmation, though some symbolic “nay” votes are possible as objections to matters like war or Obama’s policies.
“I can’t think of anyone who would vote against him,” McCain told reporters several times last week.
The Senate is slated to take up the nomination at 2 p.m. (EST).
email: jbennett@defensenews.com
Twitter:@bennettjohnt
