Esper Confirmed as Trump’s First Pentagon Chief Since December
- Former Raytheon lobbyist and Army secretary succeeds Mattis
- Esper fills critical gap on Trump’s national security team
Mark Esper
Photographer: Sarah Silbiger/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Mark Esper was confirmed by the Senate to be President Donald Trump’s new secretary of defense, ending a seven-month vacancy in the position as the U.S. navigates through key foreign policies crises with Iran, Turkey and Afghanistan.
Esper won overwhelming bipartisan support in the 90-8 vote on Tuesday. He was sworn in hours later at the White House.