I believe it still is. President to Secretary of Defense (Homeland Security for Coast Guard) to appropriate unified combatant command and down the ranks. He’s number 6 in order of succession after VP, House Speaker, Senate Pro Tempore, State, Treasury then Defense. All Democrats except Mike Johnson.
This is not about succession. Or who is the President or acting President.
Apples vs oranges.
It is about authorizing orders to the military at the strategic level.
Read Patels article, not just the headline.
Worst case….NCA system is supposed to be fail-safe against one man ( Joe Biden) ordering a nuclear strike. Hollywood has dramatized scenarios where the SecDef or others in the chain of command refuse an order.
The democrats have probably really screwed up the NCA system with their fake paranoia about Trump. They have at least tried. Imagine having to get approval from a committee headed by Pelosi.
Had the Iranian/Yemenis managed to heavily damage or sink a US ship in the Red Sea, you want the SecDef out of the loop on the military response? Or is an Austin staffer with an autopen sufficient? Remember Austin’s deputy SecDef didn’t even know he was missing,