POLITICO took a take a look at a number of the high contenders, which emerged out of conversations with DOD and White Home insiders, in addition to former officers in Trump’s circle. All of them have been granted anonymity to talk candidly about choices nonetheless very early within the making.
Kathleen Hicks
If Biden does need one other glass-shattering choose, he may look no additional than Austin’s deputy. Hicks is the primary girl to be confirmed by the Senate for DOD’s No. 2 job, and led the Biden transition effort on the division.
Hicks has principally labored behind the scenes in her present place, specializing in the day-to-day administration of the constructing. However her announcement of the brand new Replicator initiative — an bold, two-year plan to develop hundreds of drones on a budget — has
brought on confusion amongst trade resulting from complaints a couple of lack of element.
One potential hurdle for Hicks is the unhealthy press from an interview with Jon Stewart in April. The comic ripped army spending as “f***ing corruption” and Hicks got here off
trying defensive
Christine Wormuth
One other barrier-busting choose for Pentagon chief could be Wormuth, the primary girl to steer the Military and in addition a member of Biden’s DOD transition group.
Wormuth is well-liked inside and outdoors the Pentagon. She’s targeted on Military challenges corresponding to boosting low recruitment numbers, and he or she has not shied away from making headlines,
publicly criticizing Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s monthslong maintain on senior army promotions.
Michèle Flournoy
Flournoy, the previous undersecretary of protection for coverage within the Obama administration, was broadly considered the shoo-in for Biden’s Pentagon chief in his first time period. However Austin’s connection to Biden’s late son, Beau, in addition to his top-notch credentials within the Military, put him excessive.
It’s not clear the president would finally select Flournoy this time round, particularly since she and Biden have beforehand clashed over coverage points. Through the Obama administration, Flournoy
reportedly sided with the Joint Chiefs of Workers of their push to surge troops into Afghanistan, a transfer Biden opposed. It’s additionally not a provided that Flournoy would settle for the job, if provided, after the president so publicly spurned her in favor of Austin.
Christopher Miller
Then again, if Trump wins a second time period, insiders say he has just a few choices to steer the Pentagon. On the high of the record is Miller, the previous Inexperienced Beret and performing protection secretary for the final two months of Trump’s first time period. Trump himself
singled out Miller in a latest dialog with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt about who he may choose to steer the Pentagon ought to he return to the White Home.
“Trump loves Miller,” stated one former Trump official.
Miller, who was beforehand Trump’s director of the Nationwide Counterterrorism Heart, served as performing Pentagon chief till Trump left workplace on Jan. 20, 2021. His tenure was quick however eventful: he oversaw Trump’s order to attract down from Afghanistan and Iraq, and got here beneath fireplace for his response to the storming of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters on Jan. 6, 2021.
Sen. Tom Cotton
The Arkansas Republican was a contender for Trump’s first protection secretary, earlier than the previous president picked retired Gen. Jim Mattis, who resigned in 2019. A former Military infantry officer and Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, Cotton was an ardent Trump supporter early on and
endorsed him on Wednesday.
Cotton reportedly fell out of favor with Trump, nonetheless, when he voted to certify the 2020 election — and he could also be too precious to the GOP from his perch on Senate Armed Providers Committee to maneuver to the Pentagon. Nonetheless,
he’s seen as a possible choose.
Mike Pompeo
The previous secretary of State and Military officer
acted like a protection secretary even from his submit at State, wielding a unprecedented quantity of affect with Trump.
Pompeo
took a swipe at his former boss early final yr, amid rumors that he may make a run for the GOP nomination himself. However insiders say that if he begins ingratiating himself with Trump now, he may need a shot on the high Pentagon job.
Wild playing cards
For Trump, former nationwide safety adviser Robert O’Brien could be a great match, however former officers say he’d want to steer the State Division, and even function nationwide safety adviser once more. Different potentialities embody: Florida Rep. Michael Waltz, a former Inexperienced Beret; John Ratcliffe, Trump’s former director of nationwide intelligence; and Ric Grenell, Trump’s former U.S. ambassador to Germany.
An earlier model of this report first appeared in Morning Protection. Join the
publication right here.