Senate Confirms Elbridge Colby To Top Pentagon Post

In a 54-45 vote, the U.S. Senate voted on Tuesday to confirm Elbridge Colby to be the next under secretary of defense for policy at the Pentagon. Several Democrat senators joined Republicans in supporting Colby, including Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Elisa Slotkin of Michigan, and Mark Kelly of Arizona. Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was the lone Republican to vote against the nominee’s confirmation.

Colby’s nomination was advanced to the full Senate following a vote by the Senate Armed Services Committee last week. The committee did not release a final vote tally, only saying in a press release that Colby’s nomination was reported “favorably” in a roll call vote.

As under secretary of defense for policy, Colby will play a significant role in facilitating President Donald Trump’s policy priorities throughout the Defense Department. According to the Congressional Research Service, the position’s office “leads the development of the National Defense Strategy (NDS), routinely represents the Department of Defense (DOD) to interagency and international partners, and has a key role in preserving civilian control of the military.”

Colby previously served as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy and force development in the first Trump administration.

The new Trump appointee received outside support during his confirmation hearing before the Armed Services Committee last month, mostly notably from Vice President J.D. Vance. Speaking before lawmakers, the Ohio Republican defended Colby’s acumen on major foreign policy matters and noted how “in so many ways, Bridge predicted what we would be talking about four years down the road, five years down the road, ten years down the road.”

“He saw around corners that very few other people were seeing around,” Vance said. “I think that he’s the type of perspective that we need so desperately at the Department of Defense, and I think that his role at the Department of Defense will be incredibly important in seeing around the corners of the next five years, and the next 10 years,” Vance said.

For his part, Colby recognized the current and “real risk of major war” in the world and expressed optimism that the U.S. “can get through the coming years peacefully, with strength in ways that put us and our alliances on a stronger and more sustainable footing.”

I am “willing and ready to engage with those who disagree with me and adapt my views based on persuasive arguments and the facts,” Colby said. “I value our alliances deeply, even as I think they must be adapted, and … I love our great country, and will put its interests first and foremost.”

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Colby’s nomination garnered significant attention following February media reports that several GOP senators were on the fence about supporting his confirmation. Among the most notable names floated was Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who pressed the nominee on the threat a nuclear-armed Iran poses to the United States.

Responding to Cotton, Colby said, “Yes, a nuclear-armed Iran — especially, senator, given that … we know they’ve worked on ICBM-range capabilities and other capabilities that would pose an existential danger to the United States.”

Cotton supported Colby’s nomination during Tuesday’s confirmation vote.