MAVOCKE -- Former Federal Senator John Schauman was confirmed by his past Senate colleagues Thursday as the country's next Defense Secretary.
The vote was decisive, with 65 senators voting to confirm him, and 31 voting against.
Schauman previously represented the state of Ansleigha in the Senate from 2015 -- 2021. He ran for re-election in the 2020 elections but lost to Conservative Pat Ramsey.
Sixteen Conservative senators crossed party lines to vote for Schauman's confirmation, including Ellie Higgins and Luke Gymbal, who both represent Ansleigha.
Ramsey and Jon Ralston, the Senate Minority Leader, voted 'no.'
Three NAT senators joined with Conservatives to vote against Schauman, but for different reasons.
South Ceona Senator Vic Chambers (N) opposed Schauman because of his 'weak' policy positions on national security issues.
"We need a strong Secretary of Defense. Our country cannot afford another Neville Chamberlain figure at the helm of our military," said Chambers in a floor speech before the vote.
Harvannah Senator Cal Sulley (N) also voted 'no' because he questioned Schauman's qualifications.
"I know he is a Navy veteran, and I respect his service. But I feel like he was nominated for this very important position simply because he is a former senator and he lost re-election and is looking for a new job. That's not a reason to vote 'yes' to confirm," said Sulley.
"There are better-qualified people the president could have and should have nominated instead of John Schauman," Sulley added.
Kalnier Senator Paul LeBouse, who is a self-declared 'socialist' and arguably the most liberal senator in the chamber, voted against Schauman because of his 'pro-war and pro-big military policies.'
"Look, I like John Schauman. I was honored to work with him during his Senate tenure. He's a good person and I agree with him on many things. But on foreign policy and the military, we have very fundamentally different ideas. He is of the 1990s-2000s typical liberal mindset, that believes in a massive military, that advocates for Western intervention in foreign wars, and I just can't support someone who supports the military war machine," said LeBouse.
After years of interim secretaries at the Defense Department, President Jim McCaren nominated Schauman, a Navy veteran, to lead the nation's military forces.
When he retired from the Navy, Schauman was a mid-level officer. President McCaren is also a Navy veteran, though he was higher-ranking at the time of his discharge than Schauman.
But in a press conference last week, McCaren said ranks and titles don't matter as much as a record of leadership.
"I have every confidence in John Schauman. He's a leader, he's served on the Senate Intelligence Committee, on the Senate Defense Committee, he's served in the Navy, he's been involved in our armed forces in various capacities over the years. He knows the issues that are important to the Department of Defense, and he knows how to lead the agency with integrity and strength," said McCaren.
In response to being nominated by McCaren, Schauman said he it was his "highest honor," and pledged to strengthen Grassadellia's armed forces.
"Our country is nothing without our military men and women. I know that firsthand, as a veteran, as a Senator, and as a citizen. I will fight with every fiber of my being to ensure that we have the best military, the best equipment, the best technology, and the best culture in the world."
After his confirmation, his fellow senators also heaped praise on the newly-confirmed secretary.
"John Schauman is a good man and he will make a good Secretary of Defense," Armana Conservative Chuck Danbury, also a veteran and foreign policy expert, said.
Senate Majority Leader Debbie Madronas (N-Damoign) was pleased with Schauman's appointment.
"I have no doubt John Schauman will make our men and women in uniform proud," said Madronas.
Schauman's first official day on the job will be Monday, April 25, but a spokesperson for Collester said Schauman will meet with the president and other cabinet members over the weekend for classified briefings.
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