The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Anthony Tata to serve as the Pentagon’s undersecretary for personnel and readiness, approving a nominee whose incendiary political commentary made him unconfirmable during President Donald Trump’s first term.
The vote was 52-46 with all Republicans voting in favor and all Democrats opposed, underscoring the deep partisan divide over the retired Army brigadier general and former Fox News commentator.
Tata’s confirmation is a marker of Trump’s sway on Republicans — and a major win for him and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who have pledged to uproot diversity programs and cut the number of four-star generals and admirals. Tara has said he backs such moves and criticized what he called political resistance within the military.
Tata faced criticism over past remarks in which he called then-President Barack Obama a “terrorist leader,” and accused senior Pentagon officials of being “compromised … by hatred” against Trump. His earlier nomination for Pentagon policy chief was withdrawn during Trump’s first term after bipartisan backlash. Tata was later installed at the Pentagon in an acting position.
Tata, at his confirmation hearing in May, attempted to walk back those comments. He called them “out of character” and expressed regret. But Democrats were unconvinced, citing a pattern of inflammatory rhetoric and questioning whether Tata could impartially lead a workforce of more than two million active-duty troops, civilians and their dependents.
Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the Senate Armed Services Committee’s ranking member, urged his colleagues to reject the nomination. He argued Tata would politicize the Defense Department.
“Having reviewed twice and very carefully Mr. Tata’s record — particularly his naked political assertions of going after his enemies — placing him in this position, he would do more harm than good,” Reed said.
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