Ashton Carter, President Obama’s pick to lead the Pentagon, underwent back surgery on Friday, the White House announced.
Carter “successfully underwent a long-planned surgical procedure on his back,” the White House said late Friday. “Carter decided to go ahead with the previously scheduled procedure so that he could complete it before beginning his confirmation process.”
Carter, the former deputy defense secretary, will have a confirmation hearing in early 2015.
The technocrat is expected to receive bipartisan support, even in a Republican-led Senate, virtually ensuring he’ll replace Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.
Obama opted to go with a safe selection after his inner circle repeatedly clashed with Hagel over issues ranging from the administration’s policy in Syria to the transfer of prisoners from the detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Carter, who left the Pentagon in late 2013, chose to accept the nomination despite complaints from former Obama defense secretaries about White House micromanagement.
The White House said it fully expects Obama’s nominee will soon return to Pentagon.
“Carter is resting comfortably with his family and is looking forward to [the] confirmation process and if confirmed,” the White House said, “to serving with the men and women of the Defense Department.”
