
As the ink dries on Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan’s withdrawal to be considered as a permanent secretary and resignation as deputy defense secretary, House and Senate armed services committee members called June 18 for President Trump to nominate an official candidate soon to mitigate uncertainty posed by an “acting” leader. Trump announced via Twitter Tuesday that Shanahan had withdrawn his nomination for defense secretary, and that he had selected Army Secretary Mark Esper to become the next acting defense…