The Senate confirmed that retired Air Force Lieutenant General Dan “Razin” Cain became the next chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff on Friday, filling the position almost two months after President Donald Trump fired his predecessor.
Trump appointed Kane to become a top US military officer in February after suddenly firing his second black general, CQ Brown Jr.
The Senate confirmed Kane 60-25 in an overnight vote before returning to the two-week break.
Caine is a decorated F-16 combat pilot and has served as leadership in multiple special operations headquarters, some of the Pentagon's most categorized programs and in CIAs.
He does not meet the prerequisites for work as set forth in the 1986 law, including being a combatant or service chief.
However, these requirements could be exempt by the President if there is a decision that “such action is necessary in the national interest.”
A midnight confirmation of Kane just before the Senate leaves town comes as Republicans are moving forward with Trump's candidates rapidly and Democrats have tried to slow the process and show that they are fighting Trump's policies.
R-SD Sen. John Tune set up an early morning vote after Democrats opposed speeding up the procedural vote for the nomination.
Still, Kane was confirmed with some bipartisan support. At a confirmation hearing earlier this month, Kane said she was outspoken about her advice to Trump and vowed to be apolitical.
He challenged Trump's story that when the two first met, Kane was wearing a hat that “makes America great again.”
“I've never worn any political products,” he said.
Kane was asked how he would respond when ordered to instruct the military to do something potentially illegal, such as being used against civilians in domestic law enforcement.
“Would you stand up and push him back?” asked Michigan Democrat Sen. Elissa Slotkin.
“I think Senator, that's the duty and job I have,” Kane said.
Trump's relationship with Kane dates his first administration. They met on a trip to Iraq, as Trump said in his 2019 speech. He says Kane is “a real general, not a television general.”
During his first term, Trump's relationship with the then-chairman was soured by General Mark Millie as Millie took steps to prevent what he saw as an attempt to politicize the office.
He will remind military members that he has made a pledge to the Constitution, not the president.
Within hours of Trump's inauguration in January, Millie's portrait as co-chief's chairman was removed from the Pentagon. Millie's security clearance and security details have also been revoked.
