While Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster doesn’t need Senate confirmation to become Trump’s new NSA replacing Flynn, he would need Senate approval to keep his three star status in the army. This may be yet another Senate Democrat chance at obstruction. When military officers like McMaster move to new jobs, like McMaster becoming Trump’s NSA adviser, they require Senate confirmation within 60 days to keep their three star status.
| Will Senate Democrats block McMaster’s 3 star status? |
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President Donald Trump’s new national security adviser, Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, needs Senate confirmation to remain a three-star general in his new post.
His job, like virtually all those in the West Wing of the White House, doesn’t need Senate approval. But his decision to remain on active duty as a three-star Army general will require Senate approval.
Under the military’s arcane system for ranking three- and four-star generals and admirals, the ranks are considered temporary and tied to the position, so when officers move jobs they have to be reconfirmed by the Senate at that rank. Federal law allows for the president to appoint generals and admirals to “positions of importance,” but also requires Senate confirmation within 60 days.
“Gen. McMaster does not require Senate confirmation to serve as national security adviser,” said a Senate Armed Services aide. “However, if it is the president’s desire that Gen. McMaster serve as national security adviser while in his current grade of lieutenant general, the law requires that Gen. McMaster would have to be reappointed by the president and reconfirmed by the Senate in that grade for his new position.”