Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will continue to work on key issues such as the fiscal 2016 Pentagon budget and management of the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria even though he and President Obama had reached a “mutual decision” that it was time for new leadership over the armed forces, Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said Tuesday.
“The secretary’s gonna stay at the job and stay at work and continue to do what he’s been doing for the last two years,” Kirby said. “For him it’s back to business as usual.”
Obama announced Monday that Hagel would leave after less than two years as Pentagon chief as soon as his replacement was named. The process could take several months, especially if the incoming Republican Senate takes the opportunity to turn the confirmation process into a deeper examination of the president’s approach to national security amid concerns about White House micromanagement of the Pentagon.
Kirby pushed back against news reports that Hagel was fired, possibly because of disagreements over administration policy toward the Islamic State, saying they were untrue.
“The secretary and the president both agreed that two years was about the right time for him. This was the appropriate time to step down,” Kirby said.
“It’s not uncommon, at least under this commander in chief, for defense secretaries to stay about two years in length.”
