Who assumes automatic congressional approval of notification requests if no committee action notice is received within 15 days?

The Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) is the correct answer because, under certain laws governing defense budgeting and appropriations, if a notification request is submitted to Congress and no committee action or further communication is received within 15 calendar days, it is automatically presumed to be approved. This process is designed to streamline the management of defense-related funding and operations, allowing the SECDEF to proceed without additional bureaucratic delays.

The assumption of approval is part of the oversight structure intended to facilitate timely decision-making in defense matters, ensuring that the Department of Defense can act effectively while still maintaining a level of legislative oversight. The SECDEF's role thus encompasses the responsibility of moving forward with initiatives as allowed by this tacit approval mechanism, thereby fostering efficiency in defense management and resource utilization.

Other figures such as the President, Senate Majority Leader, or House Speaker do not have the same level of direct responsibility for the automatic approval process of notification requests. The roles of these individuals are focused on broader governance and legislative agenda-setting rather than the specific operational oversight and authorization of defense activities that is the role of the SECDEF.