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July 24, 2019

Former Defense Lobbyist Mark Esper Confirmed as New Defense Secretary
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The Senate confirmed Mark Esper as the new secretary of defense Tuesday.
The Pentagon had been without a confirmed secretary for seven months,
after James Mattis exited in December last year-the longest period ever
without a permanent head. Esper is a former aerospace executive and was
a top lobbyist for Raytheon. Five of the eight Democratic senators who
voted against Esper are 2020 presidential candidates: Elizabeth Warren,
Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris and Amy Klobuchar.


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