WASHINGTON — The Senate has confirmed Army veteran and former defense industry lobbyist Mark Esper as secretary of defense. Esper won Senate confirmation on Tuesday by a vote of 90-8 and is to be sworn in by day's end. Esper then became the acting secretary, …

The Pentagon has been without a Senate-confirmed leader since December when James Mattis resigned

Mr. Esper, a former soldier and lobbyist for Raytheon, takes over at the Pentagon after its longest period without a permanent leader.

The United States is seeking partners to patrol and escort ships in the Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf as tensions with Iran escalate.

Some Republicans are warning President Trump against intervening in a $10 billion cloud computing contract the Department of Defense is considering awarding to Amazon.

Iran denied it lost a drone in the Strait of Hormuz after the United States said it had 'destroyed' an Iranian drone that was threatening a U.S. ship.

The move comes after Ankara began accepting delivery of Russia's S-400 air defence system last week.

"They're getting them into debt in a way that they are able to capture strategic ports, critical minerals and resources," he said."It's just a matter of time before they match US and possibly surpass America."

An expedited confirmation hearing could make The Pentagon's third acting chief a permanent leader - after the longest vacancy in history. William Cohen, who served as secretary of defense to President Clinton, joins Andrea Mitchell Reports to discuss.

US leader's pick for defence secretary calls Ankara S-400 acquisition 'disappointing' as NATO allies' row rumbles on.

U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee to become the next secretary of defense called Turkey's decision to buy Russia's S-400 air defense system "disappointing," in remarks that break days of administration silence about the move by the NATO ally.

Esper could be confirmed to his new role as early as Thursday

Senators will question President Donald Trump's nominee to be the next Secretary of Defense, Army Secretary Mark Esper, at a confirmation hearing on Tuesday morning.

Over the next 8 days there will likely be 4 different people transitioning in and out of the top two positions at the Defense Department

Gen. John Hyten is the third top Defense official to face questions about past conduct in less than a month. A key lawmaker has concerns but Hyten was earlier cleared in a DOD investigation.

Russia flew a fresh shipment of advanced air defense equipment to Turkey on Saturday, the Turkish Defence Ministry said, continuing to implement a deal that is likely to trigger U.S. sanctions against a NATO ally.

Defence minister tells US counterpart Ankara needs the Russian defence system because it faces a 'serious threat'.

The Pentagon said on Friday it had indefinitely postponed a press briefing on Turkey accepting delivery of an advanced Russian missile defense system.

Donald Trump has now had more turnover in his Cabinet in the first two and a half years of his presidency than any of his five immediate predecessors did in their entire first terms. According to data collected by the Brookings Institution, the resignation of…

Gen. Mark A. Milley’s comments came during his Senate confirmation hearing for chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

A senior officer has accused the Air Force general tapped to be the next vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of sexual misconduct.

Senate-approved agreement with Iran should replace 2015 nuclear deal that Trump abandoned last year, US envoy says.

The move comes after the Trump administration blamed Tehran and its proxies for attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf.

The Pentagon confirmed Tuesday that President Donald Trump's pick to be the next Secretary of Defense Mark Esper will have to step down as acting secretary once the White House formally submits his nomination to the Senate.

An admiral set to become the Navy's top officer will instead retire after a questionable professional relationship.

RT @PeterZeihan: I don’t know who needs to hear this, but I think it’s worth noting that Trump went through more national security personne…

RT @PeterZeihan: I don’t know who needs to hear this, but I think it’s worth noting that Trump went through more national security personne…

RT @PeterZeihan: I don’t know who needs to hear this, but I think it’s worth noting that Trump went through more national security personne…

RT @GovChristie: Trump on SecDef Mark Esper: Before: “Outstanding.” “A highly respected gentleman with a great career — West Point, Harvar…

RT @RpsAgainstTrump: Trump's former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on the Trump tape: “It's stunning to hear it... it's the nonchalant na…

Remember!! https://t.co/EwPdwzsv84 #SmartNews

RT @denmantexas: 1. What was @AmbJohnBolton involvement in Op Gideon as confessed to Jake Tapper 2. How about Mark Esper's mention if plans…

RT @bob_smith_42: @MiekeEoyang @CrisAintMarchin Eric Prince - Blackwater Mark Esper - Raytheon John Kelly - Caliburn International John Bol…

RT @RpsAgainstTrump: Trump's former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on the Trump tape: “It's stunning to hear it... it's the nonchalant na…

RT @RpsAgainstTrump: Trump's former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on the Trump tape: “It's stunning to hear it... it's the nonchalant na…

RT @RpsAgainstTrump: Trump's former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on the Trump tape: “It's stunning to hear it... it's the nonchalant na…

RT @Morning_Joe: "Clearly it was unauthorized, illegal, and dangerous." — Mark Esper on the nature of keeping classified documents at Mar-a…

RT @RpsAgainstTrump: Trump's former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on the Trump tape: “It's stunning to hear it... it's the nonchalant na…

RT @RpsAgainstTrump: Trump's former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on the Trump tape: “It's stunning to hear it... it's the nonchalant na…

RT @FeistyLibLady: Donald Trump says he hires “only the best people,” but once they leave he calls them losers. He said John Kelly has a s…

RT @AitanaCorcega: @danielmkovalik American lawyer, spoke about the torture received by the Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab and the confessio…

RT @RpsAgainstTrump: Trump's former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on the Trump tape: “It's stunning to hear it... it's the nonchalant na…

RT @RpsAgainstTrump: Trump's former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on the Trump tape: “It's stunning to hear it... it's the nonchalant na…

RT @RpsAgainstTrump: Trump's former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on the Trump tape: “It's stunning to hear it... it's the nonchalant na…

RT @RpsAgainstTrump: Trump's former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on the Trump tape: “It's stunning to hear it... it's the nonchalant na…

RT @RpsAgainstTrump: Trump's former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on the Trump tape: “It's stunning to hear it... it's the nonchalant na…

RT @RpsAgainstTrump: Trump's former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on the Trump tape: “It's stunning to hear it... it's the nonchalant na…

RT @RpsAgainstTrump: Trump's former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on the Trump tape: “It's stunning to hear it... it's the nonchalant na…

RT @RpsAgainstTrump: Trump's former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on the Trump tape: “It's stunning to hear it... it's the nonchalant na…

RT @RpsAgainstTrump: Trump's former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on the Trump tape: “It's stunning to hear it... it's the nonchalant na…

RT @RpsAgainstTrump: Trump's former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on the Trump tape: “It's stunning to hear it... it's the nonchalant na…

RT @RpsAgainstTrump: Trump's former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on the Trump tape: “It's stunning to hear it... it's the nonchalant na…

RT @RpsAgainstTrump: Trump's former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on the Trump tape: “It's stunning to hear it... it's the nonchalant na…

Night Court 2.0 returns to the Army.... The mistake is the "gamble..hollowing out units in the hope they won’t actually have to be deployed".. Call Mark Esper for advice on how to do it right https://t.co/6TWBHry6ph https://t.co/u0vo560z7I

RT @MSNBC: Trump's former Defense secretary last year agreed that he's a "threat to democracy." Now, as @stevebenen writes, Mark Esper sees…

RT @MSNBC: Trump's former Defense secretary last year agreed that he's a "threat to democracy." Now, as @stevebenen writes, Mark Esper sees…

RT @Big_Dead_Bird: #ThrowbackThursday According to Mark Esper, Trump wanted to fire rockets into Mexico and pretend like the US didn’t do i…

RT @Big_Dead_Bird: #ThrowbackThursday According to Mark Esper, Trump wanted to fire rockets into Mexico and pretend like the US didn’t do i…

RT @MSNBC: Trump's former Defense secretary last year agreed that he's a "threat to democracy." Now, as @stevebenen writes, Mark Esper sees…

RT @MSNBC: Trump's former Defense secretary last year agreed that he's a "threat to democracy." Now, as @stevebenen writes, Mark Esper sees…

RT @MSNBC: Trump's former Defense secretary last year agreed that he's a "threat to democracy." Now, as @stevebenen writes, Mark Esper sees…

RT @MSNBC: Trump's former Defense secretary last year agreed that he's a "threat to democracy." Now, as @stevebenen writes, Mark Esper sees…

RT @MSNBC: Trump's former Defense secretary last year agreed that he's a "threat to democracy." Now, as @stevebenen writes, Mark Esper sees…

RT @MSNBC: Trump's former Defense secretary last year agreed that he's a "threat to democracy." Now, as @stevebenen writes, Mark Esper sees…

RT @MSNBC: Trump's former Defense secretary last year agreed that he's a "threat to democracy." Now, as @stevebenen writes, Mark Esper sees…