Panetta confirmed as secretary of defense

last updated 8 January 2015

In a rare nonpartisan vote, the U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Leon E. Panetta as secretary of defense this week. He’s “just a home-run choice,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, echoing statements of regard from both parties. Panetta, 73, who has spent two years as director of the CIA, will replace the well-respected Robert M. Gates, who is retiring after serving in the Bush and Obama administrations.

With discontent growing over the cost of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Panetta’s experience as House budget committee chairman and budget director for Bill Clinton was said to be one reason for his easy confirmation.