Latest news with #AnthonyTata
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Dems grill Pentagon nominee Tata over past inflammatory remarks, calling Obama 'terrorist leader'
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways Retired Brig. Gen. Anthony Tata, President Trump's pick for a top Pentagon post, came under fire at his Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday for past inflammatory remarks, including calling former President Barack Obama a "terrorist leader" and suggesting ex-CIA Director John Brennan deserved execution. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, called Tata's record of political statements "disqualifying" and said his rhetoric was "not appropriate for a position of this significance." "I respect and appreciate your military service," Reed said, "but your record of public statements and behavior toward individuals with whom you disagree politically is disqualifying." Tata, under questioning from Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., said he regretted the comments, calling them "out of character." Hegseth Orders 'Historic' Reduction Of General Officers In The Military "I regret making those comments," said Tata. "I have 45 years of solution-oriented leadership, that was out of character. I regret it. I can guarantee that I will be an apolitical leader." Read On The Fox News App The retired Army general and former Trump administration official was nominated for a senior Pentagon role in 2020, but the Senate canceled his confirmation hearing at the last minute over similar concerns. Trump later appointed him to a civilian advisory role without Senate confirmation. Tata's post-military career includes stints as a school district official, North Carolina's secretary of transportation, and a military thriller author. After calling Obama a terrorist in 2018, Tata later wrote on X that he was "joking" and meant to criticize Obama for the Iran deal. "I was joking! Of course it's not a conspiracy theory. He did more to harm US vital interests and help Islamic countries than any president in history. The Iran deal alone is more than enough evidence of his drive to subvert US national interests to Islam and a globalist agenda." "Might be a time to pick your poison," Tata had also replied on X to Brennan in a since-deleted post, accusing him of treason. Last month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Darin Selnick, his deputy chief of staff who had also been performing the duties of undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. Selnick was one of three top aides Hegseth fired after a leak investigation and fights between the aides and his former chief of staff. Hegseth Orders Sweeping Army Overhaul And Consolidation Aimed At Countering China And Golden Dome Capabilities Senators also pressed Tata on more recent social media posts, including a tweet suggesting military officers were engaged in "mutinous discussions" and another calling for senior defense officials appointed by President Joe Biden to be fired. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., asked whether Tata valued loyalty to the Constitution or the administration's political agenda more. "We all raise our right hand to uphold the Constitution," Tata responded, though he defended Trump's vision of avoiding "unnecessary wars" and rebuilding the military. He pledged to uphold his oath even "if it means getting fired." If confirmed as undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, Tata would oversee military recruitment, education, healthcare and overall force readiness. He would also play a key role in implementing efforts backed by Trump allies to reduce the number of general officers and eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the department. Tata said he would push to improve military recruiting by expanding access to high school programs to build a "warrior ethos," and streamline medical waivers for disqualified candidates. He also pledged to advise the chain of command on "apolitical and objective hirings," and denied supporting any kind of "blatant purge." Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., expressed concern about political pressure on military leadership, citing the recent ouster of Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. C.Q. Brown. Tata insisted his approach would be objective. Sen. Jack Reed listens during a Senate hearing on Capitol Hill on March 3, 2022, in Washington, D.C. In contrast, the nomination of Katherine Sutton for a top Pentagon technology role drew little opposition. Sutton, currently chief technology advisor at U.S. Cyber Command, warned that China's cyber threats demand urgent investment in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. Sutton was pressed by Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., on whether she believed Signal and Telemessage were permissible for work purposes at the DoD, after a slew of reports about the secretary's use of the encrypted messaging applications. "Depends on the level of classification," said Sutton, adding there are a "wide variety" of apps in use at the DoD. "OK, glad you got your talking point answer out," said Slotkin. "It's concerning to me that going into this job you can't give a straight balls and strike answer." Original article source: Dems grill Pentagon nominee Tata over past inflammatory remarks, calling Obama 'terrorist leader'
Toronto Star
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Trump Pentagon nominee under scrutiny in hearing for partisan comments
WASHINGTON (AP) — A retired U.S. brigadier general who failed to get through the confirmation process in the first Trump administration got renewed scrutiny for his political and anti-Islamic social media posts during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday . Anthony Tata, a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, has been nominated to become the defense undersecretary for personnel. His nomination to be defense undersecretary for policy in 2020 was stalled when senators canceled the hearing after a furor over remarks he made about Islam and other inflammatory comments.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Controversial military personnel nominee faces Senate panel this week
Senate lawmakers on Tuesday will consider the controversial nomination of retired Army Brig. Gen. Anthony Tata to oversee military personnel policies, a key leadership post which has been open through the first 100 days of President Donald Trump's second term in office. Tata was originally nominated for the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness role in 2020 but withdrew his name from consideration after numerous inflammatory comments became public. Among them were Tata's labeling of former President Barack Obama as a 'terrorist leader' and a secret Muslim believer. He also posted anti-Islamic comments on social media, drawing condemnation from military leaders. Trump later appointed Tata as Pentagon policy chief, getting around the Senate confirmation process. Upon his return to the Oval Office, Trump opted to nominate Tata again for the Pentagon personnel leadership role, a decision that will bring the fight again before the politically divided Senate Armed Services Committee. House Veterans' Affairs — 3 p.m. — 360 Cannon External VA Care Department officials will testify on medical care options outside the VA system and technology to help with scheduling those appointments. Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — G-50 Dirksen Nominations The committee will consider the nominations of Anthony Tata to be Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and Katherine Sutton to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy. House Homeland Security — 10 a.m. — 310 Cannon China Outside experts will testify on Chinese surveillance efforts in Cuba. House Veterans' Affairs — 10:15 a.m. — 360 Cannon Pending Legislation The committee will consider several pending bills, including the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act. Senate Veterans' Affairs — 11:30 a.m. — 106 Dirksen Veterans Affairs Reforms VA Secretary Doug Collins will testify on proposed VA workforce reforms and cuts. House Appropriations — 2 p.m. — Capitol H-140 Air Force/Space Force Acting Air Force Secretary Gary Ashworth, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin and Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman will testify on the fiscal 2026 budget request. House Foreign Affairs — 2 p.m. — 2172 Rayburn Counterterrorism State Department officials will testify on counterterrorism efforts and future budget requests. House Armed Services — 3 p.m. — 2118 Rayburn Military Readiness Service officials will discuss force readiness issues and the fiscal 2026 budget request. House Armed Services — 3:30 p.m. — 2212 Rayburn Science and Technology Innovation Defense officials will testify on innovation efforts within the services. House Appropriations — 10 a.m. — Capitol H-140 Army Oversight Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George will testify on the fiscal 2026 budget request. House Armed Services — 3 p.m. — 2118 Rayburn Nuclear Forces Defense officials will discuss the state of nuclear forces and the fiscal 2026 budget request. House Armed Services — 3:30 p.m. — 2212 Rayburn Bldg. Air Force Projection Forces Service officials will testify on projection forces and the fiscal 2026 budget request. House Armed Services — 9 a.m. — 2212 Rayburn Defense Information Technology Defense officials will testify on IT systems and areas in need of improvement. Senate Foreign Relations — 10:30 a.m. — 419 Dirksen Nominations The committee will consider the nomination of Caleb Orr to be Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs.
