GOP Sens. Bristle at Trump’s Pentagon Pick: ‘Makes No Sense’

WASHINGTON — Several Republican senators are expressing concerns about President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon, saying they have doubts about his qualifications and his commitment to key national security priorities.

Patrick Shanahan, a former Boeing executive, has been serving as acting defense secretary since Jim Mattis resigned in December. Trump announced last week that he intends to nominate Shanahan for the permanent role.

But some GOP senators are balking at the nomination, saying they have concerns about Shanahan’s lack of military experience and his ties to the defense industry.

“I have serious concerns about his qualifications,” said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.). “I don’t think he has the experience necessary to lead the Department of Defense.”

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) echoed those concerns, saying that Shanahan “does not have the necessary experience or qualifications to lead the Pentagon.”

Rubio also expressed concerns about Shanahan’s ties to Boeing, saying that he is “concerned about the potential for conflicts of interest.”

Shanahan worked for Boeing for more than three decades before joining the Trump administration in 2017. He was a top executive at the company, responsible for its defense and space businesses.

Shanahan has defended his qualifications, saying that he has “a deep understanding of the national security challenges facing our country.”

He also said that he is “committed to ensuring that the Department of Defense is prepared to meet those challenges.”

The Senate Armed Services Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on Shanahan’s nomination on Tuesday.

It is unclear whether Shanahan will be able to win the support of enough senators to be confirmed.