The Senate easily confirmed Ash Carter to be the next Secretary of Defense, approving the nominee by a vote of 93-5 on Feb. 12.
Carter, who replaces former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, previously served as the deputy secretary at the Defense Department from 2011 to 2013, and before that was the undersecretary for acquisition, technology and logistics at the Defense Department.
Sens. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Mark Kirk, R-Ill., John Boozman, R-Ark., and James Risch, R-Idaho cast the five "no" votes.
that analysts believe Carter's bipartisan appeal will be helpful to the Defense Department as it urges a repeal of sequestration.
"Carter's biggest challenges are those outside of his control," said Mackenzie Eaglen of the American Enterprise Institute, in the Defense News article.
