Top Pentagon official Wheelbarger resigns as critics accuse Trump of seeking 'loyalists'

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Reuters

U.S.JUNE 18, 2020 / 11:10 AM / UPDATED 3 HOURS AGO
Top Pentagon official Wheelbarger resigns as critics accuse Trump of seeking 'loyalists'

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Kathryn Wheelbarger, one of the Pentagon's most prominent and respected policy officials, is resigning after three years in the job at a time when critics have accused President Donald Trump of prioritizing perceived "loyalists" for top national security posts, sources told Reuters on Thursday.

Wheelbarger, who is highly regarded by national security experts in Trump's Republican Party and among Democrats, did not explain the reasoning for her departure in a copy of her resignation letter obtained by Reuters.

She had been named by the White House on Feb. 13 to a senior intelligence {position}, but in a surprise move last week, the White House instead announced plans to nominate Bradley {Hansell}, a former special assistant to Trump, to become deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence. (1) (2)

Both current and former U.S. officials accused the White House of passing over Wheelbarger because of her past work with the late Republican Senator John McCain, a fierce Trump critic and former chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

{snip}

(1) https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-appoint-individuals-key-administration-posts-30

(2) https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-appoint-individuals-key-administration-posts-42

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-pentagon-resignation/top-pentagon-official-wheelbarger-resigns-urges-colleagues-to-be-guided-by-us-constitution-idUSKBN23P2P5

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SCOOP-Kathryn Wheelbarger, one of the Pentagon's most visible and prominent policy officials, is resigning. STORY COMING

Link to tweet

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that makes Katie Wheelbarger and Elaine McCusker in the same week. slimmer and slimmer pickinz at the Pentagon these days.

Link to tweet

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March 2020 -

Link to tweet

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https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/18/top-pentagon-official-wheelbarger-resigns-urges-colleagues-to-be-guided-by-us-constitution.html

POLITICS
Top Pentagon official Wheelbarger resigns, urges colleagues to be guided by U.S. Constitution
PUBLISHED THU, JUN 18 2020 11:49 AM EDT

KEY POINTS

-- Kathryn Wheelbarger, one of the Pentagon's most prominent and respected policy officials, is resigning after three years in the job after President Donald Trump dropped plans to nominate her for an intelligence post, sources tell Reuters.

-- Wheelbarger, who is highly regarded by national security experts in Trump's Republican Party and among Democrats, had been named by the White House on Feb. 13 to a senior intelligence position at the Department of Defense.

-- But in a surprise move last week, the White House instead announced plans to nominate Bradley Hansell, a former special assistant to Trump, to the position of deputy under secretary of defense for intelligence.

Kathryn Wheelbarger, one of the Pentagon's most prominent and respected policy officials, is resigning after three years in the job after President Donald Trump dropped plans to nominate her for an intelligence post, sources tell Reuters.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Wheelbarger, who is highly regarded by national security experts in Trump's Republican Party and among Democrats, had been named by the White House on Feb. 13 to a senior intelligence position at the Department of Defense.

But in a surprise move last week, the White House instead announced plans to nominate Bradley Hansell, a former special assistant to Trump, to the position of deputy under secretary of defense for intelligence.

In her resignation letter, which was seen by Reuters, Wheelbarger said she trusted her colleagues would "continue to be guided by the U.S. Constitution and the principles of our founding, which ensure both our security and our freedom."

{snip}

[leftieNanner]

1. Geez. He's purging the PENTAGON!

I sure hope we don't have any kind of national emergency................

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Makes me wonder what they're up to

sounds like something that's skirting the Constitution and involves the military? Another Bible waving concerto?

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. Senior Pentagon official resigns after White House nixes nomination for top job

Senior Pentagon official resigns after White House nixes nomination for top job
Kathryn Wheelbarger’s resignation is effective as of July 4, three people said.

By LARA SELIGMAN and DANIEL LIPPMAN

06/18/2020 12:40 PM EDT

Updated: 06/18/2020 02:48 PM EDT

The Pentagon’s top official overseeing international security affairs resigned on Thursday after the White House abruptly nixed her nomination for a permanent senior role over White House concerns that she was not loyal enough to the president, according to five people familiar with the move. ... Kathryn Wheelbarger’s resignation is effective as of July 4, three of the people said.

The news of the resignation, first reported by Reuters, comes just days after the White House announced a new choice for the No. 2 position at the Pentagon overseeing military intelligence after souring on Wheelbarger, its initial pick. Instead, President Donald Trump intends to nominate Bradley Hansell, a retired Army Special Forces officer, to be deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security, the White House announced Friday.

It also comes two days after acting comptroller Elaine McCusker submitted her resignation, following the White House's decision to pull her nomination to be permanent comptroller. McCusker questioned last summer's freeze on military aid to Ukraine, which was at the heart of Trump's impeachment.

"I trust my colleagues at the Department of Defense will continue to be guided by the U.S. Constitution and the principles of our founding, which ensure both our security and our freedom," Wheelbarger wrote in her resignation letter, which was obtained by POLITICO. The reference to the Constitution comes after Trump recently threatened to deploy the active-duty military to quash civil unrest over racial injustice and police violence.

{snip}

Wheelbarger’s nomination fell victim to a post-impeachment loyalty purge that has brought down multiple senior DoD officials in recent months. The White House announced its intent to nominate her for the intelligence position on Feb. 13, but delayed submitting her paperwork to the Senate due to concerns about her loyalty to the president, POLITICO first reported, citing three people with knowledge of the deliberations.

At the root of the tensions is Wheelbarger’s association with former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis — who resigned in protest of Trump’s decision to withdraw troops from Syria in 2018 and recently issued a blistering public criticism of the president — and the late Sen. John McCain, who feuded publicly with Trump before his death in 2018.

{snip}

[Grins]

4. I smell this guy (25 Feb 2020):

I smell this guy (25 Feb 2020):

Jeff Bacon will be the powerful Presidential Personnel Office’s director of operations overseeing paperwork and will assist on vetting for loyalty to - Trump. He will be the right-hand men to new Presidential Personnel Office director, John McEntee.

Did I mention James Bacon is 23? That he is still working on his bachelor's degree from G.W. University?

[mahatmakanejeeves]

7. I had to look him up. Thanks.

A new senior leader at the White House personnel office: A college senior

The director of the personnel office, John McEntee, has installed a young, loyal aide as he evaluates the loyalty of officials across the administration.

By DANIEL LIPPMAN and MERIDITH MCGRAW

02/25/2020 07:36 PM EST

Updated: 02/25/2020 10:55 PM EST

The White House has hired a college senior to be one of the top officials in its powerful Presidential Personnel Office, according to three administration officials familiar with the matter.

James Bacon, 23, is acting as one of the right-hand men to new PPO director John McEntee, according to the officials. Bacon, a senior at George Washington University pursuing a bachelor’s degree, comes from the Department of Transportation, where he briefly worked in the policy shop. Prior to that role, while still taking classes, he worked at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, where he was a White House liaison, according to two other officials. At HUD, he distinguished himself as Secretary Ben Carson’s confidential assistant, according to two other administration officials.

{snip}

[LudwigPastorius]

10. Another Trumpler Youth...

As long as they pledge to die for him, they're golden.

[iluvtennis]

5. Smart, powerful women and trump don't mix well. nt

[Marcuse]

6. N/T

[NotHardly]

8. "Lay down with dogs, get up with fleas."

[LudwigPastorius]

9. "...the White House of passing over Wheelbarger because of her past work with the late...

Senator John McCain..."

What a petty, small, fragile ego.

Trump's daddy didn't say, "I love you" to him enough.

Now, our national security has to pay the price.

This shambling disaster of human wreckage needs to GTFO of the White House now!

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. If you're qualified, you don't get the job in the Trump regime

Previous experience, like working with a senator who was prominent in defense policy, or a former defense secretary, are reasons for Trump to get rid of someone. He only uses people that haven't done a job before, and they'll probably be on their way out soon too.