Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Wednesday issued a statement to troops and civilian employees of the military promising a smooth transition to the Donald Trump administration.
“I am committed to overseeing the orderly transition to the next commander in chief,” Carter wrote. “I know I can count on you to execute all your duties with the excellence our citizens know they can expect.”
As president-elect, Donald Trump will begin receiving uncensored classified briefings on defense and national security issues immediately. He has not begun publicizing who might serve in a Trump cabinet or who might succeed Carter. Early Trump supporter and national-security adviser Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) is considered a top candidate for the job. Reports also mention Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn, former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, and a Trump campaign supporter and adviser, though he would need a congressional waiver to serve a political post before being retired from the military for seven years.
The pillars of Trump’s planned foreign policy focus are the repeal of sequestration, rebuilding the military to an undefined size and defeating both the Islamic State and the broader issue of radical Islamic terrorism. Defense contractors saw their stocks jump Wednesday on the news that Trump would assume office.
Carter thanked Defense Department employees for their professionalism during the acrimonious campaign and for protecting the political establishment that once again resulted in a relatively peaceful election.
“Last night our fellow American citizens voted for a new President,” Carter wrote. “That it happened freely and peacefully is a testament to the great work of this department. I am very proud of the way each and every one of you conducted yourselves during this campaign, standing apart from politics and instead focusing on our sacred mission of providing security.”
“In the meantime, we must stay focused on our duty to confront our current challenges and any that might arise during this period. I am mindful every moment of the day that you are carrying out your weighty mission in each and every time zone of the globe.”