President Donald Trump has reportedly decided to replace Defense Secretary Mark Esper after this fall’s election.
In response, the Pentagon released a statement that Esper serves “at the pleasure of the president.”
Esper angered Trump last month, according to The New York Times, by breaking publicly with him over whether active-duty military troops should be sent to control protests in American cities.
At the same time, Democrats are condemning Trump’s appointing of a staunch loyalist to a senior Pentagon job after it became clear that getting the retired general confirmed to a higher post would be difficult if not impossible.
Trump appointed retired Brig. Gen. Anthony Tata to a job performing the duties of the deputy undersecretary for defense policy, amid ongoing furor about offensive remarks Tata made, including about Islam. Last week the Senate canceled a hearing on Tata’s nomination to become defense undersecretary for policy, the third-highest civilian post at the Pentagon.
Tata, who also has been a Fox News commentator, withdrew his name from consideration for the undersecretary job over the weekend and was then appointed by Trump to serve in the deputy’s post.
The Pentagon in a statement said Tata, who had been working as an adviser to Esper, “looks forward to continuing to help implement the president’s national security agenda.”
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