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The Pentagon has announced a new acting Secretary of Defense until President Donald Trump’s nominee, Pete Hegseth, is confirmed by the Senate later this week.
Some shit you should know before you read: Shortly before President Trump took office, former Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced his resignation, paving the way for a contentious confirmation process for Trump’s nominee, Pete Hegseth. Hegseth, a former Army officer, and Fox News contributor has faced significant scrutiny over allegations of sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement at nonprofit organizations, and concerns about his lack of experience in high-level defense operations. Despite these controversies, a concerted effort by Trump and his allies has bolstered Republican support for Hegseth, and it now appears likely that he will be confirmed following an upcoming Senate vote.

What’s going on now: In an announcement from the Pentagon, they confirmed that Robert G. Salesses has been sworn in as the acting Secretary of Defense while President Trump’s nominee, Pete Hegseth, awaits Senate confirmation. The Pentagon said, “Mr. Robert G. Salesses was sworn in at 12:01 to serve as the Acting Secretary of Defense today at the Pentagon.” Salesses, a retired Marine Corps officer and Bronze Star Medal recipient for his service in the Gulf War has a long history of leadership within the Department of Defense.
His previous roles include serving as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Homeland Defense Integration and Defense Continuity and, most recently, as the deputy director of Washington Headquarters Services, where he provided strategic oversight to senior defense officials and agencies.