Austin's near-unanimous confirmation came despite concerns raised on both sides of the aisle that he hadn't been out of uniform for the legally mandated minimum seven-year period.
Secretary Esper has kept a letter of resignation on hand since the summer, when he and the president disagreed over the use of active duty troops to put down street protests.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper and his Chinese counterpart lectured one another in a 90-minute call as the highest level U.S. delegation in four decades plans a provocative visit to Taiwan.
Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman testified in impeachment hearings. He's been due for promotion to the rank of full colonel, but that has not happened. Sen. Tammy Duckworth wants assurances that it will.
Some 1,600 troops airlifted for possible deployment in the nation's capital are returning to their home bases, after President Trump failed to invoke the law required for using such forces.
A peace deal signed with the Taliban calls for 4,000 of the approximately 13,000 U.S. forces in Afghanistan to leave within 135 days and for all U.S. troops to be out within 14 months.
Soon after Defense Secretary Jim Mattis arrived, Manila announced the end of an ISIS-inspired insurgency in Marawi. But there was no mention of significant U.S. support in the months-long operation
This week Defense Secretary James Mattis takes his first overseas trip, to South Korea and Japan. The U.S. allies are eager to hear what he has to say.
Senior military assistant Lt. Gen. Ron Lewis has worked with Carter in a number of jobs over the years. NPR's Tom Bowman reports Lewis is accused of an improper personal relationship.
