Lt. Gen. Dan Caine Confirmed as Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Amid Partisan Tensions
The Senate confirmed Lt. Gen. Dan Caine's appointment as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, following political battles over military leadership.
Caine’s confirmation in the middle of the night, just before the Senate left town, comes as Republicans have been quickly advancing Trump’s nominees and as Democrats have been trying to delay the process and show that they are fighting Trump’s policies.
Senate confirms Trump nominee for chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff in overnight vote
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Caine’s confirmation in the middle of the night, just before the Senate left town, comes as Republicans have been quickly advancing Trump’s nominees and as Democrats have been trying to delay the process and show that they are fighting Trump’s policies.
Senate confirms Trump’s pick for chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff
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Caine’s confirmation in the middle of the night, just before the Senate left town, comes as Republicans have been quickly advancing Trump’s nominees and as Democrats have been trying to delay the process and show that they are fighting Trump’s policies.
Senate confirms Trump nominee for Joint Chiefs of Staff chair in overnight vote
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A Washington Post report added that the general was “plucked from retirement and relative obscurity” to serve as the nation’s highest-ranking military officer.
Senate gives Trump the ‘unconventional’ Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman he wanted
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Even still, 16 Democrats joined Republicans to confirm Caine right before Congress' two-week recess.
Senate confirms Trump's top military pick in overnight vote
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Caine’s confirmation in the middle of the night, just before the Senate left town, comes as Republicans have been quickly advancing Trump’s nominees and as Democrats have been trying to delay the process and show that they are fighting Trump’s policies.
Senate confirms Trump nominee Caine for chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff in overnight vote
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Caine's confirmation makes him the nation's highest-ranking military officer, principal military adviser to the president, secretary of defense and National Security Council.
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It was the first time a president had ever relieved a joint chiefs' chairman or named a retired officer to fill the position.
Senate confirms Trump pick Dan Caine as top US military officer
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Caine was seen as an unconventional candidate for the position, a sentiment the Lieutenant General agreed with during his confirmation hearing in the Senate Apr. 1.
Dan ‘Raizin” Caine Confirmed As Chairman Of Joint Chiefs Of Staff
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Caine was ultimately confirmed with some bipartisan support.
Trump Nominee for Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Confirmed in Overnight Senate Vote
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Caine’s confirmation in the middle of the night, just before the Senate left town, comes as Republicans have been quickly advancing Trump’s nominees and as Democrats have been trying to delay the process and show that they are fighting Trump’s policies.
Senate confirms Trump nominee for chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff in overnight vote
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But Caine, who has served in various positions, including associate director for military affairs at the CIA, and flown more than 150 hours in combat as an F-16 fighter jet pilot, does not meet the prerequisites for the Joint Chiefs of Staff position in the 1986 law.
Senate confirms Dan Caine as top US general
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Caine will be the first Joint Chiefs chairman who was not a four-star and the first to come out of retirement to fill the role.
General who helped Trump decimate ISIS terrorists in first term confirmed as Joint Chiefs chairman
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Summary
On April 11, 2025, the Senate confirmed Lt. Gen. Dan "Razin" Caine as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with a 60-25 vote. His nomination came after President Trump fired Gen. CQ Brown, creating concerns over political influence in military leadership. Caine, a decorated combat pilot, does not meet traditional prerequisites for the role, which can be waived by the president. The confirmation vote was expedited before a two-week recess, with bipartisan support despite significant Democratic opposition stemming from concerns over Brown’s dismissal and Caine’s relationship with Trump.
Perspectives
Caine's confirmation marks a significant shift in military leadership under Trump's administration, raising concerns over the political motivations behind the dismissal of his predecessor, Gen. CQ Brown Jr., and the implications for military diversity.
Despite his extensive military background, Caine does not fulfill the legal prerequisites for the Joint Chiefs chair, which raises questions about the waiver process and its potential misuse for political ends.
The vote to confirm Caine was bipartisan, reflecting both support and opposition across party lines, with Senators expressing differing concerns regarding the implications of Trump’s influence on military appointments.
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History
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