Senate Approves Hurst as Pentagon Comptroller

The Senate has confirmed Jules ‘Jay’ Hurst III as the Pentagon’s comptroller in a 51-47 party-line vote, filling a position that had been vacant for about a year and a half. Hurst previously served as the Pentagon’s acting comptroller from August last year to May this year. He was part of an en bloc of nominees confirmed by the upper chamber.

Upon being sworn in, Hurst, a former Army officer, will be responsible for overseeing the Department of Defense’s budgets and spending plans. This comes as the Trump administration encourages Congress to approve a $1.5 trillion defense budget. Hurst has extensive experience, having previously served as an assistant secretary of defense for manpower and reserve affairs, and as an undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness.

Before his roles at the Department of Defense, Hurst served as a legislative director and defense advisor to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). He recently updated Congress on the costs associated with the Iran conflict, saying the amount has increased to about $29 billion. By late July, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reported that the updated cost of the conflict in the Middle East had risen to $37.5 billion.

Additionally, during the same voting session, senators confirmed Erich Hernandez-Baquero as the Air Force’s assistant secretary for space acquisition and integration.

Essential Reads

Several key policy changes affecting defense and national security have taken place recently. The U.S. Army removed a top general supervising forces in Europe from command, while the Senate passed a bipartisan bill imposing harsher sanctions on Russia and extending sanctions on Iran. Additionally, President Trump supported Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth amid reports of disagreements over depleted military munitions stockpiles during the Iran conflict. In South Korea, a military investigation found no white phosphorus leak at an American base, and evacuation orders were subsequently lifted.

Other Important News

The Hill reports on multiple developments, including the removal of a prominent U.S. general in Europe from command and recent readings from various outlets discussing Trump’s military strategies, pressure campaigns, and key military demonstrations.