By Jeremy Gray
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, is reportedly on a short list of candidates being considered by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as Secretary of Defense.
Efforts by AL.com to reach Rogers’ office for comment were not immediately successful Friday evening.
Rogers is being considered along with U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz, R-FL, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and U.S. Sen Tom Cotton of Arkansas, according to Politico.
First elected in 2002, Rogers in 2023 became the first member of Congress from Alabama to chair the Armed Services Committee. His east Alabama district includes the Anniston Army Depot and is near Fort Moore — the Georgia military post once known as Fort Benning.
“Our nation faces unprecedented threats from China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. In order to deter these threats and remain the most feared force in the world — we must ensure that our military focuses on lethality and capability,” Rogers said at the time.
“Over the next two years, the House Armed Services Committee will provide our warfighters with the resources and weapons they need to deter and, if necessary, defeat any adversary anywhere in the world.”
The Politico report noted that while Rogers has supported U.S. assistance for Ukraine Trump has called for negotiating an end to it war with Russia.
“Trump and Rogers align most closely on a policy issue near and dear to both of them: space. Rogers advocated for a new military service dedicated to space and defending U.S. satellites, which became the Space Force. Trump, who pushed lawmakers hard to establish the Space Force, has called creating the first new military branch since the 1940s one of his top achievements,” Politico reported.
Rogers has in the past criticized the Biden administration for keeping the U.S. Space Command headquarters in Colorado and said that was a political move to keep the state blue in the election.
Trump endorsed Rogers for re-election.
“As the first chairman of the House Armed Services Committee from Alabama, Mike is rebuilding our great military, fighting woke ideology, and defending our country,” Trump wrote.
Current Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is a native of Mobile.
Rogers in January 2023 made national news for confronting Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-FL, on the House floor following the 14th vote for Speaker. Rogers was held back by Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.).
Rogers has apologized to Gaetz publicly since the incident. Months later, Gaetz backed Rogers in calling for an investigation into the decision to move the Space Command headquarters.
