Senators confirmed David Norquist to be the deputy Defense secretary by voice vote, completing a key item on the chamber's pre-recess to-do list.

ADVERTISEMENT Norquist had been acting deputy Defense secretary since January, but stepped aside for the confirmation process. He has been the Pentagon’s comptroller since 2017.

Norquist is the latest Pentagon official to be confirmed as senators try to wrap up their work before the August recess, with lawmakers away from Washington until early September.

Senators predicted Norquist would be easily confirmed after a largely uneventful confirmation hearing earlier this month, putting his nomination on a glide path.