Fresh off the exit of yet another Trump Cabinet member and the administration's continual flirtation with getting the nation into another war, it's worth reflecting on the fact that the Pentagon has been helmed by an "acting" defense chief for seven months now.
When Jim Mattis resigned from the Defense secretary post seven months ago, he anticipated it would take about two months to find his replacement. The Associated Press reports the continued vacancy is "the longest such stretch in Pentagon history."
On top of that, even the deputy defense secretary post hasn't been filled by a confirmed appointee, while other key civilian and military posts remain unfilled. Former GOP senator and Defense Secretary William Cohen told the AP that the instability at the Defense Department is creating global uncertainty for the nation's friends and foes alike.
“It is needlessly disruptive to have a leadership vacuum for so long at the Department of Defense as the department prepares for its third acting secretary in less than a year,” Cohen said.
Anyone who has studied international diplomacy or worked in the field knows how critical it is to the global balance of power for nations to be viewed as dependable and rational actors, even if one doesn't agree with their motivations. Uncertainty and inconsistency are a recipe for disaster.
But by and large, people are exiting the administration faster than Trump could fill the jobs—even if he even actually wanted to do so.