By Michael Hernandez
WASHINGTON (AA) - President Donald Trump will nominate acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan to be defense secretary, the White House announced Thursday.
The post has been vacant since former Defense Secretary James Mattis resigned in December over disagreements with the president, including his abrupt decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Syria.
Mattis had originally said his resignation was effective in February, but angered by Mattis' critical resignation letter Trump made it effective at the start of January.
Shanahan has been acting in the interim as the Pentagon's top official.
The former Boeing executive will have to face Senate confirmation after Trump officially makes the nomination.