SecDef is a position not susceptible to filibustering. It just needs a majority. Sure Sinema or Manchin might play games, but the Republicans can be voted down.
As has been stated, that position needs only a simple majority to be confirmed. It can only be held up so long.
But even if the position is vacant the already confirmed by the Senate deputy can be acting SECDEF for as long as needed. That’s why there is a deputy. The deputy has to be informed she is in charge for it to work.
911 call. Seems normal too me. They didn’t want a public spectacle. Austin’s staff still should have privately notified the White House.
I’m concerned about his future health. I’ve had different surgeries and definitely needed time off work. The meds can affect concentration and physically I tired more easily. Austin should consider a fews months leave of absence.
I agree. But both CNN and MSNBC, today, were playing up this story as though it were a major Gotcha. (I can only imagine how Fox must have treated it; as a major scandal at the least, I assume.)
Yes, he’s not going to be at 100% for a while. It’s a very unpleasant situation. But I think the White House has to prioritize keeping continuity at Defense. With a replacement, there will be constant GOP cries of ‘not qualified’ and additional harassment.
Austin IS qualified, even if overly concerned with his privacy, and guilty of bad judgment because of it.
The chances of our enemies knowing this happened are pretty high.They certainly track his movements.
Do you want our enemies to know the command structure involving a nuclear launch is compromised and the next in line is on vacation?
This is way beyond a serious breach of national security. There is no rational reason for this to have occurred.
He has a deputy that can step up. The senate already confirmed her. Any cries of cries of not qualified will sound pretty hollow.
I wish to retract my statement above. With new information, I no longer feel that he should resign.
I wish him good health and good luck in his job. I wouldn’t take the job, that’s for sure.
White House has given direction to all Cab Secs on the need to notify the White House about absences:
And order is restored. A screw up, an apology, and a fix. Seems like competence in action.
Agreed. Good to see.
We now return you to the “All Hunter Biden, All The Time Show” already in progress.
I just don’t understand why that wasn’t a thing before.
I work in government (state but still), I’d estimate about 95% of our policies are reactive rather than preventative. So this doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.
Because it’s so obvious, so it doesn’t need to be in a policy.
Or what @Atamasama said.
Yup. I suspect that most formal policies (both in government and in business) came about because someone did something that ignored the informal (but known) guidelines.
Austin was in the Army for over 40 years. The military does nothing that isn’t covered in a 5 paragraph Operations Order. Paragraph 5 of the OPORD covers command and would be applicable to this situation. Even at the platoon level it is written out and briefed who will take over him someone is incapacitated. It should be so firmly engrained in his soul that its second nature. The military doesn’t believe in so obvious it doesn’t need to be written out. That’s what is so perplexing to me. I would expect a general with 40 years experience to know better.
It seems he learned his lesson. Hope he gets better soon.
He got quite the grilling on Capitol Hill: 'You have embarrassed us!': Defense Secretary Austin apologizes to Congress for botched illness response