The Senate has confirmed Army veteran and former defense industry lobbyist Mark Esper as secretary of defense.
Esper’s confirmation ends a stretch of seven months the Pentagon didn’t have a permanent leader.
Esper won Senate confirmation on Tuesday by a vote of 90-8 and is to be sworn in by day’s end.
The Pentagon had been without a permanent boss since Jim Mattis stepped down last New Year’s Eve. Deputy Secretary Patrick Shanahan became the acting secretary, but after six months as the fill-in the former Boeing executive abruptly quit.
Esper then became the acting secretary, but once he was nominated last week he had to step aside until a Senate vote.
For the past week the Pentagon has been run by yet another fill-in, Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer.
More must-read stories from Coins2Day:
—What to expect from the second Democratic debate
—When it comes to politics, Americans are divided. Can data change that?
—Elizabeth Warren declares war on private equity ‘vampires’ in 2020 plan
—Trump outspent every other political campaign on Facebook. Here’s who those ads targeted
—Sex toys allowed, not massages, in fine print of Trump tax break
Get up to speed on your morning commute with Coins2Day’s CEO Daily newsletter.
