President Donald Trump expects to delay formally nominating Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan to DOD’s top post until an ethics investigation is complete, The Washington Post reported Monday.
White House officials interviewed for the report said that unless the investigation into Shanahan’s ties with his former employer Boeing uncovers bias, the president was likely to nominate him for the post.
Shanahan has denied allegations that he improperly influenced decisions regarding Boeing and expects to be cleared in the investigation. The delayed nomination has extended a period of uncertainty at the highest levels of the military.
White House officials have warned that it would be difficult to win full Senate confirmation while the ethics investigation is ongoing.
Shanahan stepped into the top Pentagon position in late 2018 after previous Defense Secretary Gen. Jim Mattis resigned due to differences with the president.
DOD photo by Lisa Ferdinando
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