Ashton Carter, the White House’s nominee as defense secretary, emphasized that Congress needs to provide stable funding for military programs during his confirmation hearing Wednesday, the Associated Press reported Thursday.
Carter also pledged that he would take what he termed a “straightforward” approach to address U.S. foreign and defense policy issues, according to AP.
The Washington Post reports that Carter said at the hearing that he will be open to providing recommendations on the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan if he wins the post.
He added he believes the U.S. should provide Ukraine with equipment to help the country defend itself and that he would be cautious about prisoner release or transfer from Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, according to the story by Post reporters Craig Whitlock and Missy Ryan.