HAGEL CONFIRMED AS DEFENSE SECRETARY

Senate Republicans dropped their opposition of Chuck Hagel yesterday, approving President Obama’s controversial Defense Secretary nominee by a mostly party line 58-41 vote. Before the President’s Day recess, the GOP had filibustered Hagel, blocking Democrats from ending debate on Hagel and moving to a final vote, but a handful of Republicans switched sides yesterday to allow a final vote on the nominee. Hagel drew significant criticism from Republicans for his support of significant reductions to the nation’s nuclear stockpile, but those views were not a significant factor in the delay, which was more driven by Republicans seeking more information about past speeches and money Hagel may have received from various organizations.

 

The nuclear criticism levied toward Hagel was centered on his role in drafting a Global Zero report last year that suggested the U.S. could reduce the total size of its nuclear stockpile to 900 weapons and remove the ICBM leg of the triad, but Democrats have suggested his support of reductions—almost certainly not as drastic as those suggested in the Global Zero report—fall in line with President Obama’s vision for a nuclear free world and pursuit of further cuts to the size of the U.S. nuclear arsenal. He is expected to take his new position as soon as today.