The Senate Armed Services Committee will vote to confirm Ashton Carter as the next defense secretary as soon as Tuesday morning if a quorum is present for the committee’s hearing on global challenges and U.S. national security strategy.
SASC spokesman Dustin Walker confirmed the committee would vote on Carter’s confirmation the next time a quorum is present.
Carter sat through a lengthy confirmation hearing last Wednesday–from 9:30 a.m. until about 4:30 p.m., with a midday break for lunch and Senate votes–in which senators asked him about a number of weighty topics but made clear they supported him becoming the next secretary who would tackle those problems.
Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) began to address him as “Secretary Carter” before correcting herself–“soon-to-be Sec. Carter”–and she spoke of “when you’re confirmed.” Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) expressed his high confidence in the nominee and his ability to run the Pentagon.
SASC chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) told Defense Daily in early January that he expected Carter to receive a quick confirmation from the committee and the full Senate, saying “I don’t have any doubt about the votes being there, but there will be intense discussion about cost overruns, about acquisition, about policy, about Iraq. There will be a lot of conversation.” (Defense Daily, Jan. 7, 2015.)
At the end of Wednesday’s hearing, McCain asked that committee members send Carter any additional questions by noon Thursday so Carter could respond in writing as soon as possible. The Senate will recess next week for President’s Day, and McCain wants Carter’s nomination to pass the committee and go to the full Senate for passage before lawmakers leave town.