The Senate confirmed retired Air Pressure Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine to develop into the following chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers on Friday, filling the place virtually two months after President Donald Trump fired his predecessor.
Trump nominated Caine to develop into the highest US navy officer in February after abruptly firing Gen. CQ Brown Jr., the second Black common to function chairman, as a part of his administration’s marketing campaign to rid the navy of leaders who assist range and fairness within the ranks.
The Senate confirmed Caine 60-25 in an in a single day vote earlier than heading residence for a two-week recess.
Caine is a embellished F-16 fight pilot who served in management in a number of particular operations instructions, in among the Pentagon’s most labeled applications and within the CIA.
He doesn’t meet conditions for the job set out in a 1986 regulation, akin to being a combatant commander or service chief.
However these necessities might be waived by the president if there’s a dedication that “such action is necessary in the national interest.”
Caine’s affirmation in the course of the night time, simply earlier than the Senate left city, comes as Republicans have been shortly advancing Trump’s nominees and as Democrats have been attempting to delay the method and present that they’re combating Trump’s insurance policies.
Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-SD, arrange the early morning vote after Democrats objected to rushing up procedural votes on the nomination.
Nonetheless, Caine was confirmed with some bipartisan assist. At his affirmation listening to earlier this month, Caine stated he can be candid in his recommendation to Trump and vowed to be apolitical.
He disputed Trump’s story that Caine wore a “Make America Great Again” hat when the 2 first met.
“I have never worn any political merchandise,” he stated.
Caine was requested how he would react if ordered to direct the navy to do one thing probably unlawful, akin to getting used towards civilians in home regulation enforcement.
“Will you stand up and push back?” Michigan Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin requested.
“Senator, I think that’s the duty and the job that I have, yes,” Caine stated.
Trump’s relationship with Caine dates to his first administration. They met throughout a visit to Iraq, as Trump recounted in a 2019 speech. He has stated Caine is “a real general, not a television general.”
Throughout his first time period, Trump’s relationship with then-Chairman Gen. Mark Milley soured as Milley pushed again and took steps to attempt to forestall what he noticed as an try to politicize the workplace.
He would remind navy service members that they took an oath to the Structure, to not a president.
Inside hours of Trump’s inauguration in January, Milley’s portrait as chairman of the Joint Chiefs was faraway from the Pentagon. Milley’s safety clearance and safety element additionally have been revoked.
