Space News:
WASHINGTON — Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan held his first national security meeting at the Pentagon on Wednesday. On his second day on the job, Shanahan informed senior DoD leaders that he intends to stick with the national defense strategy that former Secretary James Mattis rolled out a year ago.
The meeting, attended by the secretaries and undersecretaries of the military services and other top officials, is a routine gathering that the defense secretary conducts twice a week. According to a DoD official, Shanahan told attendees to focus on the national defense strategy and to “keep this effort moving forward.” He also told them to “remember China, China, China.”
On Wednesday Shanahan also attended his first White House cabinet meeting.
Shanahan, who became deputy secretary of defense July 19, 2017, was unexpectedly promoted to acting defense secretary. Former secretary Mattis turned in his resignation letter Dec. 20 and had intended to leave his post Feb. 28 over policy differences with President Trump.
