Defense Secretary James Mattis made his first public appearance in office Friday, when he was ceremonially sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence at the Pentagon. “On behalf of your department, those serving today have been tested and you can count on us all the way,” Mattis said during the ceremony. President Donald Trump said at the ceremony that he has “total confidence” in Mattis, who he said “likes action” and is “the right man at the right time.” The White House is preparing a defense budget that will make Congress “very happy to see it” and will ensure that no one questions the strength of the US military, added Trump.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
