The top policy official at the Department of Defense will leave his post at the end of the month, possibly due to fallout from the Ukraine military aid issue brought up during impeachment hearings, according to reports.
John Rood, who is the undersecretary of defense for policy, reportedly submitted a resignation letter to President Trump that indicated he was asked to resign.
The resignation will be effective Feb. 28.
In a tweet, Trump thanked Rood for his service and added that he “wish[es] him well in his future endeavors!”
Rood’s own deputy, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities James Anderson, is serving in an interim role after his predecessor retired in July.
It marks the latest in a series of departures at the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
VA Deputy Secretary James Byrne was fired earlier this month due to a “loss of confidence in Mr. Byrne’s ability to carry out his duties,” according to a statement from VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. He had been on the job for only five months.
Last November, Navy Secretary Richard Spencer was fired in connection with the ongoing case of Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer Edward Gallagher, who is accused of war crimes in Iraq. Gallagher was pardoned by Trump the following month.
