WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate confirmed retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine to turn into the subsequent chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Friday, filling the place virtually two months after President Donald Trump fired his predecessor.
Trump nominated Caine to turn into the highest U.S. navy officer in February after abruptly firing Gen. CQ Brown Jr., the second Black common to function chairman, as a part of his administration’s marketing campaign to rid the navy of leaders who help range and fairness within the ranks. The Senate confirmed Caine 60-25 in an in a single day vote earlier than heading house for a two-week recess.
Caine is a adorned F-16 fight pilot who served in management in a number of particular operations instructions, in among the Pentagon’s most categorised applications and within the CIA. He doesn’t meet stipulations for the job set out in a 1986 regulation, equivalent to being a combatant commander or service chief. But these necessities could be waived by the president if there’s a willpower that “such action is necessary in the national interest.”
Caine’s affirmation in the midst of the evening, simply earlier than the Senate left city, comes as Republicans have been rapidly advancing Trump’s nominees and as Democrats have been making an attempt to delay the method and present that they’re combating Trump’s insurance policies. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., arrange the early morning vote after Democrats objected to rushing up procedural votes on the nomination.
Still, Caine was confirmed with some bipartisan help. At his affirmation listening to earlier this month, Caine mentioned he could be candid in his recommendation to Trump and vowed to be apolitical. He disputed Trump’s story that Caine wore a “Make America Great Again” hat when the 2 first met.
“I have never worn any political merchandise,” he mentioned.
Caine was requested how he would react if ordered to direct the navy to do one thing probably unlawful, equivalent to getting used towards civilians in home regulation enforcement.
“Will you stand up and push back?” Michigan Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin requested.
“Senator, I think that’s the duty and the job that I have, yes,” Caine mentioned.
Trump’s relationship with Caine dates to his first administration. They met throughout a visit to Iraq, as Trump recounted in a 2019 speech. He has mentioned Caine is “a real general, not a television general.”
During his first time period, Trump’s relationship with then-Chairman Gen. Mark Milley soured as Milley pushed again and took steps to attempt to stop what he noticed as an try and politicize the workplace. He would remind navy service members that they took an oath to the Constitution, to not a president.
Within hours of Trump’s inauguration in January, Milley’s portrait as chairman of the Joint Chiefs was faraway from the Pentagon. Milley’s safety clearance and safety element additionally have been revoked.
Associated Press writers Lolita Baldor and Tara Copp contributed to this report.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/senate-confirms-trump-pick-for-joint-chiefs-chairman_n_67f8ce23e4b0061740c12b04