Anthony Tata, shown testifying in May 2025 during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, is a retired Army brigadier general who was confirmed by the Senate on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, to oversee millions of service members and their families as the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness at the Pentagon. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Tuesday narrowly confirmed Anthony Tata, a retired Army brigadier general who has made inflammatory remarks about Islam and prominent Democrats, to serve as the Pentagon’s personnel chief.

Senators voted 52-46 to confirm Tata in the role of undersecretary for personnel and readiness despite deep reservations from the top Democrat of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, and other members of his party.

Reed recounted Tata’s history of controversial statements in a speech on the Senate floor on Tuesday, recalling how Tata called former president Barack Obama a “terrorist leader” and said former CIA director John Brennan deserved to be executed.

After Trump’s reelection in November 2024, Tata recommended a purge of four-star generals appointed by former President Joe Biden and the appointment of leaders who are “all oars in the water to achieve Trump agenda 47.”

Reed said the rhetoric and behavior toward people who politically disagreed with him disqualified Tata from a job that requires overseeing the health and welfare of a military force that comes from all backgrounds and political persuasions.

“Having reviewed twice and very carefully Mr. Tata’s record, particularly his political — indeed, naked political — assertions of going after his enemies, placing him in this position would, I think, put him at a point where he would do more harm than good,” Reed said.

Tata at his confirmation hearing in May sought to walk back his divisive remarks, calling the comments “out of character” and vowing to serve as an apolitical leader if confirmed. He noted he apologized for his comments in a 2020 letter to senators.

Tata had been nominated by the first Trump administration that year for another high-level Pentagon policy role, but his confirmation hearing was canceled at the last minute when it became clear he lacked the votes needed to advance.

Trump instead installed Tata as the Pentagon’s top policy official in an acting capacity — a position that did not require Senate confirmation.

As personnel chief, Tata will oversee all personnel matters in the Defense Department, including military families, child care, the military school system, and pay and benefits for millions of service members and civilian employees.

He told senators during his confirmation hearing that he intended to focus on recruiting and retention, transition to civilian life, education, military health and safety standards for blast exposure from firing weapons.

In an exchange with Reed, Tata defended his call to fire senior Pentagon leaders following Trump’s 2024 election victory. He said his comments were prompted by an article that reported Pentagon officials were discussing how to respond if Trump deployed active-duty troops inside the U.S. or dismissed career civilian officials.

“I found it disturbing, to say the least, that we had admirals and generals ... discussing resisting the president,” Tata said. “I also found it disturbing that the [Joint Chiefs] chairman and the chiefs did not come out and say that this is unacceptable.”

Reed on Tuesday said Tata had failed to alleviate senators’ concerns about his partisanship and gave no indication he would exercise “measured and independent judgment.”

“The worst thing that could happen to our military is it becomes a political arm of the president of the United States — any president,” Reed said. “If we have personnel in key positions that are evaluating people on their political beliefs rather than their merit, talent and commitment to the Constitution, we are making a profound mistake.”

Republicans have vouched for Tata’s credentials.

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., defended Tata while introducing him to the Senate Armed Services Committee in May and said Tata will approach the personnel position with a “commitment to professionalism and impartiality.”

“The thing I’ve learned about Tony is that he takes responsibility for his words and actions, he learns from his past mistakes, which is a testament of a good leader,” Tillis said.

Tata served in the Army for 28 years before retiring in 2009. His military career included commanding positions in the 82nd Airborne Division, 101st Airborne Division and the 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan.

After the Army, Tata worked as a chief operating officer for District of Columbia Public Schools, superintendent of the largest public school district in North Carolina and North Carolina’s transportation secretary.

He is also the author of military thrillers and is best known for the “Threat” book series.