US President Trump appointed an acting Defense Secretary as the Senate has yet to confirm his nominee, Pete Hegseth.
According to NBC, Robert Salesses, the Deputy Director of the Pentagon’s Washington Headquarters Services, will serve as the acting Defense Secretary starting from January 20th.
The Washington Headquarters Services is responsible for providing support services across the capital region, including facility management, legal advisory offices, and other support services for military departments and Pentagon leadership. Salesses, a former Marine Corps officer who served in the Gulf War, was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
Hegseth attended his confirmation hearing on January 14th, but the Senate Armed Services Committee is expected to begin voting on January 20th, with a result likely to follow in the days ahead. As per tradition, Defense Secretary Austin will step down at noon on the day of the president’s inauguration.
After his nomination, Hegseth faced controversy, with allegations of sexual assault, alcohol abuse, and financial mismanagement. In response to these accusations, Hegseth has vehemently denied them.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Senator Roger Wicker hailed Trump’s nomination of Hegseth as Defense Secretary as an “excellent choice.” While Wicker supports Hegseth, other senators on the committee, including some Republicans, remain skeptical about his suitability for the position given the allegations against him.
Wicker has expressed doubts about the validity of these accusations, dismissing them as “anonymous allegations.”