The departure of acting Defense Department Secretary Patrick Shanahan raises questions about who is advising President Donald Trump, who pulled back a planned military strike on Iran this week, says CQ defense reporter Andrew Clevenger in this episode of the CQ on Congress podcast. And Chris Lu, who served as Barack Obama‘s liaison to his Cabinet, says Trump’s apparent preference for churn among his agency heads gives him more power to direct policy on his own.

Show Notes:

• Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon brings military experience and political savvy to his new job
• Acting Defense Secretary Shanahan gives up post, withdraws name from nomination
• Shanahan’s confirmation as Defense secretary seems likely, if bumpy