(Ronaldo Bola\u00f1os\/The Texas Tribune, Ronaldo Bola\u00f1os\/The Texas Tribune)<\/p>\n
The U.S. Senate confirmed Texas Sen. Brian Birdwell<\/a> to serve as an assistant secretary of defense on Monday, a return to the Pentagon for the five-term Granbury Republican.<\/p>\n Birdwell was confirmed on a 46-43 vote in the Senate alongside several dozen other nominees. He previously worked as staff for the Department of the Army at the Pentagon, where he suffered severe burns during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks when a plane crashed yards away from his office.<\/p>\n Birdwell announced in June<\/a> that he would not seek reelection to Senate District 22<\/a>, where he has served for 15 years. The White House announced<\/a> Birdwell\u2019s nomination<\/a> in October.<\/p>\n State Rep. David Cook<\/a>, R-Mansfield, is running to replace Birdwell after decisively winning<\/a> the Republican party nomination for the seat in March. He will face off against Democrat Amy Martinez-Salas, a first-time candidate, in November.<\/p>\n 2026 Texas Tribune<\/p>\n Spurs fans flock downtown to celebrate win<\/p>\n \u25b6 0:29<\/p>\n Spurs fans flock downtown to celebrate winSpurs fans reveal their game day superstitions<\/p>\n \u25b6 1:06<\/p>\n Spurs fans reveal their game day superstitionsSpurs watch parties for Game 6<\/p>\n \u25b6 1:13<\/p>\n Spurs watch parties for Game 6This Spurs Fan Honked So Hard He Broke His Car Horn<\/p>\n \u25b6 1:05<\/p>\n This Spurs Fan Honked So Hard He Broke His Car HornAlamo Heights family released from ICE detention facility in Dilley<\/p>\n \u25b6 1:07<\/p>\n Alamo Heights family released from ICE detention facility in DilleyYou applied for a texas education freedom account\u2014Now what?<\/p>\n \u25b6 1:21<\/p>\n You applied for a texas education freedom account\u2014Now what?Bombshell allegations against the son of a Norte\u00f1o legend. <\/p>\n \u25b6 0:47<\/p>\n Bombshell allegations against the son of a Norte\u00f1o legend. New City Department Finds Major Gaps in Homeless Services<\/p>\n \u25b6 0:47<\/p>\n New City Department Finds Major Gaps in Homeless ServicesFamily identifies migrant found dead in Bexar County<\/p>\n \u25b6 1:55<\/p>\n Family identifies migrant found dead in Bexar County The Cost of Living in SA Is Changing \u2014 Here’s What You Need to Know<\/p>\n \u25b6 1:18<\/p>\n The Cost of Living in SA Is Changing \u2014 Here’s What You Need to KnowThe tiny shop putting the South Side on the map<\/p>\n \u25b6 1:03<\/p>\n The tiny shop putting the South Side on the mapSpurs fans go honking down Commerce after R2G5<\/p>\n \u25b6 0:41<\/p>\n Spurs fans go honking down Commerce after R2G5Countdown to Spurs v. Timberwolves Game 5<\/p>\n \u25b6 0:36<\/p>\n Countdown to Spurs v. Timberwolves Game 5Check out these texas-sized homemade spurs barbeque pits<\/p>\n \u25b6 1:08<\/p>\n Check out these texas-sized homemade spurs barbeque pitsThese Women-Owned Businesses Are Riding the Spurs Wave<\/p>\n \u25b6 0:30<\/p>\n These Women-Owned Businesses Are Riding the Spurs WaveShe walked away from addiction \u2014 now she’s helping other moms do the same<\/p>\n \u25b6 0:33<\/p>\n She walked away from addiction \u2014 now she’s helping other moms do the sameA meme, a cease & desist, and court records you need to see<\/p>\n \u25b6 1:50<\/p>\n A meme, a cease & desist, and court records you need to seeSpurs Celebrations too much?<\/p>\n \u25b6 0:47<\/p>\n Spurs Celebrations too much?One mom’s raw truth about postpartum anxiety no one talks about<\/p>\n \u25b6 0:40<\/p>\n One mom’s raw truth about postpartum anxiety no one talks aboutSA’s Playoff Run Is a Lifeline for These Local Vendors<\/p>\n \u25b6 1:46<\/p>\n SA’s Playoff Run Is a Lifeline for These Local VendorsSan Antonio is offering FREE help with your property taxes \u2014 but you have to act fast<\/p>\n \u25b6 0:33<\/p>\n San Antonio is offering FREE help with your property taxes \u2014 but you have to act fastNo Arrest. No Answers. A Family Is Waiting.<\/p>\n \u25b6 1:25<\/p>\n No Arrest. No Answers. A Family Is Waiting.Two Boys Murdered. Two Moms Still Waiting for Answers.<\/p>\n \u25b6 1:31<\/p>\n Two Boys Murdered. Two Moms Still Waiting for Answers.Spurs fans are ALL IN \u2014 and they’re confident tonight’s a must-win<\/p>\n \u25b6 0:40<\/p>\n Spurs fans are ALL IN \u2014 and they’re confident tonight’s a must-winSpurs fans show their spirit through nail art<\/p>\n \u25b6 2:33<\/p>\n Spurs fans show their spirit through nail artPrevious photoNext photo<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"(Ronaldo Bola\u00f1os\/The Texas Tribune, Ronaldo Bola\u00f1os\/The Texas Tribune) The U.S. Senate confirmed Texas Sen. Brian Birdwell to serve…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":298950,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[13079,53286,2133,2328,21542,287,2424,1564,27,29,293,28,2134],"class_list":["post-298949","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-texas","tag-brian-birdwell","tag-david-cook","tag-democrats","tag-granbury","tag-mansfield","tag-politics","tag-republicans","tag-state-government","tag-texas","tag-texas-headlines","tag-texas-legislature","tag-texas-news","tag-u-s-senate"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/298949","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=298949"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/298949\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/298950"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=298949"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=298949"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=298949"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}