Former Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter’s nomination to be the next Secretary of Defense passed the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. The nomination now moves to the full Senate for consideration. Unlike the troubled nomination process for his predecessor Chuck Hagel, Carter was unanimously approved by the panel with a vote of 25-0—with several members voting by proxy via SASC Chairman Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Ranking Member Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.). McCain said he wants the Senate to act on the nomination as soon as possible, and said he hoped a full vote could be held as early as Wednesday. Last week’s confirmation hearing for Carter was largely uneventful, but revealed Carter would attempt to push forward key personnel and acquisition reforms. He also supported supplying arms to the Ukrainian government—a stance the White House has thus far not endorsed. (C-SPAN video of SASC vote here).
U.S. munitions have been expended at a high rate during Operation Epic Fury against Iran, prompting concerns that the Pentagon is eating into weapons stockpiles it needs to deter threats around the world. Yet the newly released $1.5 trillion defense budget request was developed before the war against Iran and…