Trump's Pentagon shuffle: Feinberg offer and Hegseth woes
President-elect Donald Trump offered billionaire Stephen Feinberg the position of Deputy Secretary of Defence, reported the "Washington Post" on Tuesday. Feinberg was the owner of the defence sector company DynCorp and has invested in developing hypersonic missiles.
According to the newspaper, it is not known if the billionaire has accepted the President-elect's offer. Feinberg served as the head of the advisory team on intelligence during Trump's first administration. He currently leads the Cerberus Capital Management fund, investing in hypersonic missiles, and previously managed DynCorp, which provides aircraft servicing for the Pentagon.
A billionaire in the Pentagon?
As noted by the "Washington Post," the deputy chief of the department is typically responsible for the day-to-day management of the bureaucratic machine that is the Pentagon. Appointing someone with experience in leading large organisations and being well-known in the field for this role could alleviate establishment concerns related to the candidate for Pentagon chief, Fox News presenter Pete Hegseth, who does not have such experience.
Controversies surrounding Hegseth, who faced allegations of sexual assault, continue. According to an article published on Sunday in "The New Yorker," Hegseth also allegedly had to step down from a veteran organisation he led due to allegations of financial irregularities, sexist behaviour, and alcohol abuse.
Trump considers replacing the candidate for Pentagon chief
On Monday, the candidate met with a series of Republican senators who will decide on approving his nomination. According to the "Wall Street Journal," he is the most uncertain of approval among Trump's nominees, and several senators have expressed a desire to further investigate the allegations against Hegseth.
As the "Wall Street Journal" writes, Donald Trump is considering replacing his chosen candidate for Pentagon chief, Pete Hegseth, with former rival and Governor Ron DeSantis.
Like Hegseth, DeSantis is a veteran - he served as a lawyer in the Navy, including at the Guantanamo base - and like him, he is a critic of inclusivity in the armed forces (Hegseth advocated against women serving in combat roles, among others). The journal notes, however, that if the Fox News journalist's candidacy fails, Trump may also opt for a candidate other than DeSantis.
Hegseth might become the third person nominated by Donald Trump for top positions in the new administration, whose candidacy falls even before the President-elect's inauguration. Previously, under Trump's pressure, attorney general candidate Matt Gaetz withdrew due to allegations of paying for intimacy with a 17-year-old, as well as the candidate for head of the DEA, Chad Chronister, who was criticised by conservatives for arresting a pastor in Florida who violated restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
