Senate Confirms Esper as DoD Secretary

The Senate voted today to confirm the nomination of Dr. Mark Esper as Secretary of Defense.

Esper, confirmed on a 90 to eight vote, previously served as Secretary of the Army and acting Secretary of Defense. Esper also previously worked as the policy director for the House Armed Services Committee, legislative director for Senator Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., and chief of staff at the Heritage Foundation.

During his Senate nomination hearing, Esper expressed concern that continuing budget resolutions would harm the Department of Defense, and urged Congress to pass the National Defense Authorization Act.