Tue Jan 21 03:42:15 IST 2025: **Acting Pentagon Chiefs Appointed as Trump’s Nominee Awaits Senate Confirmation**
Washington, D.C. – President Donald Trump has appointed Robert Salesses, deputy director of the Pentagon’s Washington Headquarters Service, as acting Secretary of Defense. This follows the delay in Senate confirmation of Trump’s nominee, Pete Hegseth. Three other career civilian officials will serve as acting heads of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Salesses, a retired Marine with a Bronze Star, will oversee the Washington Headquarters Service, responsible for capital region support services. Hegseth’s nomination may advance as early as Monday, but full Senate approval could be delayed until later this week.
The acting secretaries are: Mark Averill (Army), Terence Emmert (Navy), and Gary Ashworth (Air Force). Each brings extensive experience within their respective branches. Averill is a West Point graduate and career civilian; Emmert is a former Navy aviator; and Ashworth served over 20 years in the Air Force.
Trump’s early executive orders are expected to impact the military, potentially including additional troop deployment to the U.S.-Mexico border to complete border wall construction, and the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion training. Currently, around 2,500 National Guard and Reserve personnel are deployed at the border under federal orders, providing support services. No active-duty troops are currently working directly on the border wall’s construction.
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