White House Vets Candidates to Replace Deputy Defense Secretary Feinberg
The White House has explored potential replacements for Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg, sources say. Both the White House and the Pentagon denied the reports, affirming that Feinberg retains full support in his role.
The White House has vetted candidates to replace Steve Feinberg, who serves as the deputy to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, three U.S. officials told Reuters. The sources noted that no final decision has been made to oust Feinberg, and it remains unclear why the administration is looking for potential successors.
Official Denials
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly strongly denied the reports:
"These alleged anonymous sources have no idea what they are talking about. President Trump appreciates the work of Hegseth, Feinberg, and the entire war department, whose record in fighting Iran and toppling the Maduro regime in Venezuela speaks for itself."
The Pentagon also rejected claims of an impending replacement, stating that Feinberg has full support and "is not going anywhere." The Department of Defense declined to make Feinberg available for an interview.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised his deputy in a statement:
"Feinberg has worked tirelessly to rebuild our defense industrial base and ensure our military has everything it needs to win, and I look forward to continuing to work with him. He is doing a tremendous job for President Trump, the Department of Defense, and our warfighters."
Industrial Challenges and Staff Attrition
Feinberg, a billionaire and co-founder of private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, pledged to accelerate U.S. munitions production but has yet to meet those targets. Industry analysts suggest the U.S. industrial base cannot scale up rapidly, while defense executives point out that his mission has been hindered by Congress's slow pace in allocating funds despite heavy administration pressure.
Feinberg's potential departure would mark the most significant high-level exit in a department already shaken by high-profile resignations under Hegseth. This week, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned following months of tension with Hegseth. Navy Secretary John Phelan and other top military officials have also departed in recent months.
