Trump Names Acting Secretary of Defense, Designates Acting Service Secretaries
January 21, 2025
Washington, D.C. – President Trump has announced the appointment of Patrick Shanahan as Acting Secretary of Defense, effective immediately. Shanahan previously served as the Deputy Secretary of Defense under former Defense Secretary James Mattis.
In addition to Shanahan’s appointment, Trump has also designated acting service secretaries for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. These individuals will assume their duties until permanent replacements are confirmed by the Senate.
The acting service secretaries are:
- Army: Ryan McCarthy, Under Secretary of the Army
- Navy: Thomas Modly, Under Secretary of the Navy
- Air Force: John Roth, Acting Secretary of the Air Force
- Marine Corps: Eric Smith, Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations
According to the White House, these appointments were made to ensure a smooth transition of leadership at the Department of Defense. Trump thanked Mattis and the outgoing service secretaries for their service.
Shanahan is a former Boeing executive with over 30 years of experience in the aerospace industry. He is considered to be a strong advocate for modernization and reform within the Department of Defense.
The acting service secretaries are all career military officers with decades of experience in their respective branches.
The appointments come at a time of significant uncertainty within the Department of Defense. Mattis resigned from his post in December 2018 over policy differences with Trump. The Pentagon is also facing a number of challenges, including rising tensions with China and Russia, the ongoing war in Afghanistan, and the need to modernize its aging weapons systems.
It is unclear how long Shanahan and the acting service secretaries will serve in their positions. The Senate will need to confirm permanent replacements before they can assume their duties. It is possible that the process could take several months.
In the meantime, Shanahan and the acting service secretaries will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Department of Defense. They will also be tasked with implementing Trump’s defense policies.
Trump Names Acting Secretary of Defense, Designates Acting Service Secretaries
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