Biden selects new Pentagon policy chief despite Tuberville’s hold.
President Joe Biden selects Derek Chollet as Pentagon’s next policy chief
President Joe Biden has chosen Derek Chollet, currently a counselor to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, to assume the role of the Pentagon’s next undersecretary of defense for policy. Chollet’s nomination, which requires Senate confirmation, comes as Colin Kahl steps down from the position.
A distinguished career in national security
Before his current role as counselor to Secretary Blinken, Chollet held several key positions in the field of national security. He served as assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, special assistant to the president, and senior director for strategic planning on the National Security Council staff.
“The undersecretary for policy plays a crucial role as the primary policy adviser to the secretary, offering invaluable strategic guidance in support of U.S. national security interests worldwide,” said deputy Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh.
Kahl, who was confirmed by the Senate in April 2021, made significant contributions during his tenure. According to a Department of Defense spokesman, his achievements include providing strategic policy advice, overseeing security assistance to Ukraine, implementing the National Defense Strategy, and strengthening U.S. deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
Obstacles in the nomination process
Chollet’s nomination may face delays due to Senator Tommy Tuberville’s objections to the department’s abortion policy. Sen. Tuberville is currently holding up over 250 military promotions and confirmations as a result. The policy in question allows the military to reimburse travel expenses for service members or their dependents who need to travel out-of-state for an abortion.
Despite multiple conversations between Sen. Tuberville and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, no resolution has been reached. Defense officials argue that the hold impedes military readiness and unfairly impacts the families of service members. While many Republicans in Congress support Sen. Tuberville’s stance, some question his tactics.
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