President Joe Biden plans to renominate his pick to be the Pentagon's policy chief, a move sure to trigger fresh fights with Republicans over the administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan and contentious abortion policies.

Derek Chollet, who had a bruising confirmation hearing in September after he was originally tapped for the job, was one of three nominees for top Pentagon appointments who spent months in limbo in the Senate awaiting confirmation.

After the chamber sent the nominees back to the White House on Wednesday, which is standard procedure if the Senate fails to act before the end of the year, it was up to the White House to decide if it wanted to renominate them in the new year or pick someone else for the jobs.

“President Biden intends to renominate these extremely well-qualified individuals,” National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said Thursday in an email.

Chollet is by far the most contentious. But the other two picks — Ronald Keohane, tapped to be assistant secretary for manpower and reserve affairs, and Melissa Dalton, the pick for the Air Force’s No. 2 civilian — face an uphill battle once Congress returns in January.

The commitment comes as a narrowly divided Senate that has confirmed just one civilian DOD nominee since April. That fight is unlikely to get easier in the new year.

Chollet, who weeks after his Senate Armed Services hearing hasn’t yet been voted out of committee, faces resistance from Republicans who are protesting the Pentagon’s abortion travel policy and other Biden administration decisions.

Two senior members of the committee, Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), have said in recent days that they plan to

QOSHE - ‘We will make his life miserable’: GOP promises bruising confirmation for Pentagon policy pick - Joe Gould And Connor O’Brien
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‘We will make his life miserable’: GOP promises bruising confirmation for Pentagon policy pick

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22.12.2023

President Joe Biden plans to renominate his pick to be the Pentagon's policy chief, a move sure to trigger fresh fights with Republicans over the administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan and contentious abortion policies.

Derek Chollet, who had a bruising confirmation hearing in September after he was originally tapped for the job, was one of three nominees for top Pentagon appointments who spent months in limbo in........

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