Pentagon Chief Chuck Hagel Is Stepping Down

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel is resigning from the post after less than two years on the job, a senior Obama Administration official confirmed Monday.

Hagel, an Obama friend dating back to their time opposing the Iraq War in the Senate, had difficulty interacting with members of Obama’s team and has been rumored to be on his way out for weeks. 

Hagel will announce his resignation at the White House on Monday morning joined by President Barack Obama, though he will remain in his post until a replacement is confirmed by the Senate. The New York Times first reported on Hagel’s departure Monday morning.

In an interview with PBS last week, Hagel sidestepped questions about whether he would remain in the job. “First of all, I serve at the pleasure of the President,” Hagel said. “I’m immensely grateful for the opportunity I’ve had the last two years to work every day for the country and for the men and women who serve this country. I don’t get up in the morning and worry about my job. It’s not unusual by the way, to change teams at different times.

“I didn’t say I expect him to change,” he added under continued questioning. “What I’m saying is it wouldn’t be unusual to do that first of all historically. But second, I’ve got to stay focused on my job… and I do. And I am very fortunate that I have some of the best people in the world to work with and whatever the President decides, he’s the President, he makes those decisions.”

Hagel, the first enlisted man to rise to become Secretary of Defense, was seen by Obama aides as having difficulty staying on message and communicating the Administration’s positions clearly. Over the summer, White House aides were forced to walk back comments he made about the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS), in which he called the militant group an “imminent threat to every interest we have.”

“Over the past two years, Secretary Hagel helped manage an intense period of transition for the United States Armed Forces, including the drawdown in Afghanistan, the need to prepare our forces for future missions, and tough fiscal choices to keep our military strong and ready,” a senior Administration official said. “Over nearly two years, Secretary Hagel has been a steady hand, guiding our military through this transition, and helping us respond to challenges from ISIL to Ebola. In October, Secretary Hagel began speaking with the President about departing the Administration given the natural post-midterms transition time. Those conversations have been ongoing for several weeks. 

This morning at 11:10 AM at the WH joined by the President, Secretary Hagel will announce his resignation. A successor will be named in short order, but Secretary Hagel will remain as Defense Secretary until his replacement is confirmed by the United States Senate.”

Hagel faced a tough confirmation battle in 2012 and early 2013 when Democrats controlled the Senate. His replacement will have to find support from the GOP-controlled Senate in the new Congress next year.

Two former Department of Defense officials—Michele Flournoy, the former under secretary of defense and Ashton Carter, the former deputy secretary of defense—were runners-up to Hagel for the post when former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates stepped down in 2012, and are seen as the top contenders to be Hagel’s successor.

[Time]