74% of key positions are vacant, the Pentagon becomes a 'ghost town'?

Up to this point, up to 74% of key positions at the US Department of Defense are still vacant, making the Pentagon likened to a "ghost town".

The Phantom of the Pentagon Theater

According toSputnikThe US Senate has just approved the appointment of 65 positions in the US Department of Defense proposed by President Donald Trump, including the position of Under Secretary of Acquisition, Technology and Logistics held by former CEO of Textron Ellen Lord and the position of Secretary of the Navy held by CFO of Intercontinental Exchange.

Illustration photo: AP

However, this number is “still just a drop in the ocean”. Even more worrying, many positions considered “must not be vacant” such as Secretary of the Army, Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness, or Under Secretary for Policy are still waiting for the “nod” from the Senate.

In addition, four other positions that Mr. Donald Trump “picked to entrust” also failed to pass the first round of voting in the US Congress. These positions include: Assistant Deputy Secretary for Policy David Joel Trachtenberg, Senior Justice Advisor to Secretary of the Navy Charles Stimson, Assistant for Special Operations and Small-Scale Conflicts to Secretary of Defense Owen West and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Department of Defense John H. Gibson II.

Faced with the "gloomy" situation at the Pentagon, former member of the US Senate Intelligence Committee, Marine General Arnold Punaro, harshly criticized the US Senate's delay in approving vacant positions, especially in the context of the current complicated world situation.

“These are all critical positions related to ensuring national security and America is facing the most dangerous time ever. The current situation is more dangerous than the Cold War.

Those [waiting for confirmation-ND] should not be “wasting away” because the Senate is not scheduled to work yet [the US Senate is on summer break and will return to work in the fall-ND], said Mr. Arnold Punaro.

The US military has been partially paralyzed for two years.

Not only the Pentagon is affected, but many US defense contractors have also voiced concerns that delays in approving key positions in the Department of Defense could negatively affect their business.

General Dynamics CEO Phebe Novakovic said the company's second-quarter profits were severely damaged: "When these key positions are not filled, it is very difficult for us to approve large contracts and receive disbursements for these contracts.

At this point, things are moving much slower than we anticipated. However, we remain confident that defense spending will be passed quickly.”

Leidos Holdings CEO Roger Krone also expressed concern about the delay in approving personnel for the Department of Defense by the US Congress: “The fact that there are too many vacant positions at the Department of Defense in 2017 will cause unpredictable consequences.

Congress took too long to approve a senior position in the Department of Defense. It is expected that it will take up to 2 years for the US military to be able to operate smoothly.”./.

According to VOV