Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel stepping down

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s shaky tenure is coming to an end, it was announced Monday.

President Obama made the announcement at a White House press conference but word leaked early in the morning that Hagel was resigning under pressure.

Breaking News: Hagel Said to Be Stepping Down as Defense Chief Under Pressure
http://t.co/gFypsOONKl

— The New York Times (@nytimes) November 24, 2014

Hagel, 68, was named to the post early last year. A senior defense official said the Republican from Nebraska handed in his resignation letter to
Obama in the morning and the president accepted it.

The timing is not regarded as a coincidence: the president’s national security team has been taking a beating in foreign policy, particularly the surge of ISIS in the Middle East.

Hagel agreed to remain in
office until his successor is confirmed by the Senate, the official said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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