President Joe Biden has selected Derek Chollet, currently a counselor to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, to be the Pentagon’s next policy chief.
Chollet, whose nomination to become the undersecretary of defense for policy requires Senate confirmation, would replace Colin Kahl, who stepped down earlier this month.
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Prior to his current role, which he’s held since January 2021, Chollet served as assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, special assistant to the president, and senior director for strategic planning on the National Security Council staff.
"The undersecretary for policy is the key policy adviser to the secretary and provides vital strategic guidance in support of U.S. national security interests worldwide," deputy Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said on Tuesday.
Kahl was confirmed by the Senate in April 2021 in a tough vote.
"Some of his key accomplishments include providing responsive and strategic policy advice, orchestrating the department’s security assistance to Ukraine, developing and implementing the National Defense Strategy, and strengthening U.S. deterrence in the Indo-Pacific and beyond," a Department of Defense spokesman told the Washington Examiner in May.
Chollet's nomination will presumably be stalled in the immediate term due to Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), who's holding up more than 250 military promotions and confirmations due to his objections to the department's abortion policy. The policy permits the military to reimburse the cost of the travel expenses accrued for service members or their dependents who have to travel out-of-state for an abortion.
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While Tuberville has spoken to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin multiple times this month, and DOD briefed the Senate Armed Services Committee about the policy, neither side appears any closer to budging. Defense officials have said the hold hampers military readiness, and unfairly affects the families of service members. Republicans in Congress have largely supported Tuberville's position, though some question his tactics.