WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Tillis (R-NC) issued the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm Secretary of Defense nominee Ashton Carter:

“Dr. Carter is a well-qualified nominee who has demonstrated he will be a thoughtful and independent leader, and I look forward to working with him on readiness, morale, intelligence and acquisition modernization and the ongoing contribution of all of North Carolina bases to our nation’s defense. 

“The question now is whether the White House will end its political micromanagement of the Pentagon and give Dr. Carter the flexibility and freedom to lead the department based on military needs. Over the last several years, President Obama often ignored the recommendations of Pentagon leaders, including Secretaries Gates and Panetta, and subsequently made major foreign policy mistakes. America is now confronted with major challenges in defeating ISIS, preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, defending our nation from cyberattacks, and overturning the sequester’s indiscriminate and damaging cuts to our national defense.

“I urge President Obama to heed Dr. Carter’s counsel and begin working with Congress on a bipartisan basis to keep our nation safe and secure.” 

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