Senate Confirms Dan Caine To Lead Joint Chiefs In Late-Night Vote

In the early hours of Friday, the Senate confirmed retired Lt. Gen. Dan Caine as the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, following a 60 to 25 vote in favor of President Donald Trump’s nominee.

The decision came after a temporary delay led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and other Democrats, who objected to the abrupt dismissal of former top military official Gen. C.Q. Brown Jr. They argued that Brown’s removal was unjustified and used the delay as a form of protest, just before the Senate heads into a two-week recess.

Despite the controversy surrounding Brown’s ousting, Caine encountered little resistance during his confirmation process. His hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee was notably smooth, and the committee voted 23-4 to advance his nomination to the full chamber.

Committee chairman Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) urged fellow lawmakers to approve Caine “without any delays,” warning that threats like “China’s ongoing military expansion” and alliances forming against American interests required immediate action.

“President Trump should have the expertise of the highest-ranking military officer in place without any delays,” Wicker said, praising how Caine “sailed through” the committee with “an overwhelming, nearly unanimous, bipartisan endorsement.”

Caine’s confirmation followed Trump’s unexpected February shake-up at the Pentagon, which involved removing seven high-ranking officials, including Brown and Adm. Lisa Franchetti, who was serving as the first female Chief of Naval Operations.

Critics, particularly among Democrats, accused the Trump administration of trying to “politicize the historically apolitical United States military” by replacing independent leaders with those more likely to support the president’s agenda without question.

Before assuming his current post, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had reportedly pushed for the removal of Brown and other officers labeled “woke” due to their involvement in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.

“It sends a chilling message about who is and is not welcome in our military,” Warren remarked during a Senate Armed Services subcommittee session on Wednesday.

During his confirmation, Caine emphasized that he would remain neutral and committed to duty, pledging to operate in a nonpartisan fashion. He made it clear that, if approved, he would not allow himself to be pressured into acting against the law or the Constitution.

He affirmed his willingness to challenge any unlawful orders and accept dismissal if necessary.

In nominating him, Trump declared, “General Caine is an accomplished pilot, national security expert, successful entrepreneur, and a ‘warfighter’ with significant interagency and special operations experience.” Trump also noted that while Caine had been “highly qualified” for advancement, he was “passed over” under the previous administration.

“But not anymore! Alongside Secretary Pete Hegseth, General Caine and our military will restore peace through strength, put America First, and rebuild our military,” Trump said, also announcing plans to fill five more senior roles soon. “Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the committee’s top Democrat, reminded Caine of the importance of offering honest counsel: “I expect you to pledge to always provide your best military advice to the president and the secretary of defense. Even if that advice is not what they would want to hear.”

Wicker echoed concerns about the global threat environment, stating, “The Chinese Communist Party continues an expansive military buildup, and our adversaries continue to band together against the United States.” He added, “It is critical that the Senate confirm Lt. Gen. Caine as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff this week.”