The U.S. Senate, under Republican control, has confirmed the appointment of retired Lt. Gen. Dan Caine as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a nomination put forth by President Donald Trump.
The confirmation vote, which resulted in 60 in favor and 25 against, followed a delay instigated by Democrats, led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who protested Trump’s dismissal of the former military leader, Gen. C.Q. Brown Jr.
The senators, who had recently taken a two-week recess, argued that Brown’s removal was unwarranted. Despite the controversy surrounding Brown’s exit, Caine garnered bipartisan support during a notably uneventful confirmation hearing, facing no significant opposition to his ascension as the senior uniformed leader of the U.S. military.
The Senate Armed Services Committee, which oversaw his hearing, voted 23-4 to advance his nomination to the full Senate. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), the committee’s chairman, urged his fellow senators to expedite Caine’s confirmation, citing the ongoing military expansion of China and the need for a strong military leadership in light of adversaries uniting against U.S. interests. He emphasized that President Trump requires the expertise of the highest-ranking military officer without delay, noting that Caine received an overwhelming bipartisan endorsement during the committee vote.
The Senate’s approval of Caine’s nomination came after Trump unexpectedly removed seven senior officials from the Pentagon in February, including Brown and Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the first female Chief of Naval Operations.
Democrats argued that these dismissals were part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to politicize the traditionally nonpartisan U.S. military, aiming to appoint individuals in key Department of Defense positions who would align with his views.
Prior to his current role, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had advocated for Brown’s dismissal, along with other so-called ‘woke’ generals involved in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.However, that is no longer the case! Together with Secretary Pete Hegseth, General Caine and our armed forces will restore peace through strength, prioritize America, and revitalize our military,” Trump stated. “Additionally, I have instructed Secretary Hegseth to seek nominations for five more senior positions, which will be revealed shortly. I appreciate your attention to this issue!”
“I anticipate that you will commit to consistently offering your most informed military counsel to the president and the secretary of defense,” remarked Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the leading Democrat on the committee. “Even if that counsel may not align with their preferences.”
“The Chinese Communist Party is engaged in a significant military expansion, and our adversaries are increasingly uniting against the United States,” Wicker expressed in a statement. “It is essential for the Senate to confirm Lt. Gen. Caine as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff this week.” This vote is regarded as another significant victory for President Trump and his agenda, especially his objective to reform the U.S. military under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other Pentagon officials.
