Trump ultra-loyalists are installed in series of top Pentagon jobs after purge in wake of Defense Secretary Mark Esper being fired
President Donald Trump's firing of Defense Secretary Marc Esper has broadened into a broader Pentagon purge, with senior civilian officials departing and Trump loyalists coming in.
Trump fired Esper Monday, in the most high-profile move as the White House pushed out a series of top agency officials throughout the government in the days since the election.
But that was just the beginning.
President Donald Trump is conducting a purge of the Pentagon's civilian leadership in the days after the elections, after refusing to concede or congratulate President-elect Joe Biden
Among the loyalists climbing the ranks in the Pentagon is Anthony Tata, a former Fox News commentator who was unable to win Senate confirmation or make it through the Senate Armed Services Committee following disclosures about explosive and racist comments from his past.
He called former President Barack Obama a 'terrorist leader' and falsely said he was a Muslim (Obama is a Christian).
Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security Joseph Kernan, a former Navy SEAL who headed SEAL Team 6 and SEAL Team 2, has effectively resigned.
Also coming taking the reins at key posts are Kash Patel, a former aide to Rep. Devin Nunes of California who helped undermine the Russia probe, and Ezra Cohen-Watnick, a former aide to fired National Security Advisor Mike Flynn, as acting undersecretary for intelligence.
Patel will serve as chief of staff, replacing Jen Stewart, who resigned.
Tata, a retired brigadier general, won't be able to work in an 'acting' role, as have many top Trump officials. But the Pentagon is granting him substantial duties of its top policy job.
IN: Anthony J. Tata, who couldn't get confirmation through the Republican-controlled Senate, will be performing the duties of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
Ezra Cohen,a former aide to National Security Advisor Mike Flynn, takes over a top intelligence post
OUT: Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security Joseph Kernan, a former Navy SEAL who headed SEAL Team 6 and SEAL Team 2, has effectively resigned.
Kash Patel is stepping into the role of chief of staff for the Secretary of Defense, following the resignation of Jen Stewart
'Effective immediately, and while the position of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy is vacant and there is no Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Mr. Anthony Tata, Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense, is delegated the authority of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and is directed to perform the duties of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy,' Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller told Defense One .
The move follows the sudden resignation of former acting policy chief James Anderson – who left earlier Tuesday amid the turmoil.
Tata's move to the policy job came on Christopher Miller's second day on the job as defense chief. The latest change sent reverberations through the building as nervous civilian and military personnel waited for the next shoe to drop. And it fuels concerns about efforts to politicize the military and raises fear about what the Trump administration may do in the months before President-elect Joe Biden takes office. Trump has refused to concede his election loss.
Trump appointed Tata to the policy post earlier this year, but the Senate canceled a hearing on the nomination when it became clear that it would be difficult if not impossible to get him confirmed. Tata withdrew his name from consideration for the job, which is the third-highest position in the department.
Trump then appointed Tata to serve in the job of deputy undersecretary.
There has been continuing tumult in the Pentagon's policy shop. John Rood was forced to resign as undersecretary for policy in February after he drew White House ire for warning against the U.S. withholding aid to Ukraine, the issue that led to the president´s impeachment.
According to reports, Tata posted tweets in 2018 calling Islam the 'most oppressive violent religion I know of,' and he called former President Barack Obama a 'terrorist leader' and referred to him as Muslim. The tweets were later taken down.
At the time of the Senate hearing, Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash. and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said Trump must not prioritize loyalty over competence and install someone in a job if the 'appointee cannot gain the support of the Senate, as is clearly the case with Tata.'
Defense officials said Miller, who previously was director of the National Counterterrorism Center, continues meeting with staff and becoming familiar with the Pentagon and its wide range of complex and critical national security issues and mission.
Tata's move to the policy job came on Christopher Miller's second day on the job as defense chief. The latest change sent reverberations through the building as nervous civilian and military personnel waited for the next shoe to drop. And it fuels concerns about efforts to politicize the military and raises fear about what the Trump administration may do in the months before President-elect Joe Biden takes office. Trump has refused to concede his election loss.
FILE - In this Sept. 24, 2020, file photo, National Counterterrorism Center Director Christopher Miller testifies during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. President Donald Trump says he has fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper and has replaced him with Miller. (Tom Williams/Pool via AP, File)
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