Controversial NC secretary confirmed to top Department of Defense job under Trump

Danielle Battaglia, The News & Observer (Raleigh) on Jul 15, 2025

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North Carolina’s Tony Tata was accused of trying to segregate Wake County Public Schools.

He called President Barack Obama “a terrorist leader” and labeled Islam “the most oppressive, violent religion.”

On Tuesday, Senate Republicans confirmed Tata to a top job within the Department of Defense in a 52 to 46 vote. Both Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, Republicans from North Carolina, voted in support of Tata.

Tata, 65, served as North Carolina’s Department of Transportation secretary under former Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican. He also spent two years as superintendent of Wake County Public Schools. Now he writes Tom Clancy-style novels.

Tata nominated by Trump

President Donald Trump nominated, in February, Tata to serve as under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness. In this role, Tata will oversee the Department of Defense’s recruitment, career development, pay, benefits, military operations, health programs, education system, commissaries and equal opportunity training program.

He will make $165,300 annually.

Nominees are often sworn in quickly following their Senate confirmations.

Tata’s initial nomination in February came without Trump’s usual fanfare. There was no post on social media and no news release.

Tata’s controversies

It’s the second time Trump nominated Tata for a position within the administration that required Senate approval.

In 2020, Tata withdrew his nomination for the under secretary of defense for policy role moments before his confirmation hearing was set to begin after 51 organizations came out against him, accusing Tata of being racist, reminding senators about his past comments and his work at Wake County schools.

The letter then said, “A vote for Anthony Tata would be a vote to confirm one of the most clearly bigoted executive nominees in recent memory.”

Trump, then, unmoved by the backlash, found another job within his administration for Tata — one that didn’t require a Senate vote. He named Tata deputy under secretary of defense for policy. Three months after, Tata’s boss would resign, and Tata would be come acting under secretary, a position he held until February 2021, when President Joe Biden’s defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, fired him.

Republican support for Tata

Tata’s nomination in Trump’s second term didn’t meet the same backlash it did in 2020.

His nomination moved forward, and this time, Tillis, of Huntersville, was by his side, supporting him.

“The thing I learned about Tony is he takes responsibility for his words and actions, he learns from his past mistakes, which is the testament of a good leader,” Tillis said in Tata’s May confirmation hearing, while introducing Tata to the Senate Committee on Armed Services.

Tata then reaffirmed an apology he submitted to the committee in 2020.

“Five years ago, I submitted an apology letter to this committee about those comments,” Tata said. “I have 45 years of solutions-oriented leadership; that was out of character. I regret it, and I can guarantee you that if confirmed I will be an apolitical leader that is trying to take care of the men and women in uniform and their families.”

A week after the hearing, the committee reported Tata’s nomination could move forward to a full Senate vote.

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