President Joe Biden plans to renominate Derek Chollet as the Pentagon’s policy chief, sparking potential conflicts with Republicans over Afghanistan withdrawal and abortion policies.
Chollet, along with two other nominees, faces resistance from Senate Republicans.
The Senate, narrowly divided, has confirmed only one civilian DOD nominee since April, making the upcoming confirmation battles challenging. (Trending: Prominent LGBTQ Activist Arrested Over Disturbing Charges)
National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett wrote in a statement, “President Biden intends to renominate these extremely well-qualified individuals.”
Sen. Joni Ernst said, “I’m not in favor of [Chollet], and unless he comes to the committee and tells us Republicans he’s going to do something about the DOD abortion policy, I won’t be supporting him — and I’ll do everything I can to kill him.”
“We will make his life miserable, because this is an important issue for us that has been rejected outright by this administration,” she added.
Sen. Budd’s spokesperson Mike Reynard said, “As Senator Budd stated on the Senate floor last week, he’s been clear with the Pentagon since day one that he would be happy to lift his hold on Ronald Keohane should Secretary Austin rescind the Department’s abortion travel policy.”
Chollet, in particular, faces objections related to Pentagon’s abortion travel policy and Biden administration decisions.
The other nominees, Ronald Keohane and Melissa Dalton, also encounter GOP resistance.
Keohane is facing pressure to drop the abortion travel policy, while Dalton’s nomination is expected to involve tough questioning due to controversies surrounding border and immigration policies.
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