Reuters, citing three sources familiar with the discussions, reports that the White House is considering possible candidates to replace US Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg.
If a decision is made, it would be another major personnel reshuffle at the Pentagon, which has already faced an unusually high level of leadership turnover.
According to two sources, the selection of potential candidates began at least in June. The administration has also consulted with influential senators to assess whether potential candidates can gain the support necessary for confirmation. One of the interlocutors of Reuters reported that the discussions continued in late August.
At the same time, according to all three sources, a decision on Feinberg’s dismissal has not yet been made. They did not specify the reasons for the search for a possible replacement and did not name the candidates that the White House is considering.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly denied these reports.
“The so-called, anonymous ‘sources’ have no idea what they’re talking about,” he said.
Kelly added that US President Donald Trump highly appreciates the work of Defense Secretary Pete Hegsett, his deputy Steve Feinberg and the entire military department, highlighting the results of the American operations “Epic Fury”, “Absolute Resolve” and “Midnight Hammer”.
The Pentagon also announced that there is no process underway to replace Feinberg. Responding to a Reuters inquiry, Hegsett said that he fully supports his deputy and that he “is not going anywhere.”
The Pentagon did not provide a statement from Feinberg himself and declined to schedule an interview with him.
The possible departure of Feinberg, a billionaire and co-founder of investment firm Cerberus Capital Management, would be the most significant Pentagon shakeup since Hegseth took office. Several high-ranking officials have already left the department under the current defense secretary.
