TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Gates Streamlines Transition Process

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 24, 2008

The Washington Post

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert Gates is approaching the presidential transition unlike any of his predecessors.

He has ordered hundreds of political appointees at the Pentagon canvassed to see whether they wish to stay on in the new administration, has streamlined policy briefings and has set up suites for President-elect Barack Obama's transition team just down the hall from his own E-ring office.

Gates' efforts to ensure a smooth changeover during the first wartime presidential transition in 40 years marks a consensus-oriented style that has won him strong support.

Gates' transition staff, led by special assistant Robert Rangel, has also mapped out key events for the first 90 days of the new administration - such as NATO meetings and budget submissions, as well as decisions on deployments and the F-22A Raptor fighter jet.

THE CONTENDERS

Under one often-mentioned scenario, Robert Gates would stay on for an initial period in the new administration while Richard Danzig, an Obama adviser and former Navy secretary, prepares to take over as the new defense secretary. In addition, the Obama transition team is said to be considering these men for the post of defense secretary:

•Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee
•Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb.

•John Hamre, president of the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a senior defense official under President Bill Clinton.

CHALLENGES AT THE PENTAGON

Vast budgetary, personnel and organizational problems await the new defense secretary.

•With nearly 2 million civilian employees and an annual base budget exceeding $500 billion, deciding on the fiscal 2010 defense budget will be an early challenge.

•The Pentagon's planning and budget process is "broken internally" and under fire from Congress, said Kathleen Hicks, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies who has assessed reforms at the Pentagon from 2001 to 2008.

•Costs for military personnel, health care and equipment are mounting, with the Army and Marine Corps to add 92,000 permanent active-duty troops by 2011.

•The Army and Marine Corps estimate the cost of replacing equipment at more than $15 billion a year.

•A recent Government Accountability Office report on the 95 largest defense acquisition programs, worth $1.6 trillion, identified nearly $300 billion in cost overruns.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT