- Title: USA-MILITARY/HAGEL FILE U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel steps down
- Date: 24th November 2014
- Summary: ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES (FILE) (REUTERS) U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY CHUCK HAGEL AND WIFE WALKING ENTERING PENTAGON BUILDING HAGEL GREETING SAUDI MINISTER OF THE NATIONAL GUARD PRINCE MITIB BIN ABDULLAH BIN ABDUL AZIZ AL SAUD MILITARY OFFICERS OFFERING SALUTE
- Embargoed: 9th December 2014 12:00
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- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA60Z3HVYRN05Y407GAJ0RFIEH1
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- Story Text: U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has resigned, U.S. officials said on Monday (November 24), ending nearly two years in the Pentagon's top job after a bruising mid-term election that undermined President Barack Obama's Democrats in Congress.
Hagel, who had struggled to improve his ties with Congress after a contentious 2013 confirmation hearing, submitted his resignation letter after lengthy discussions with Obama that began in October, officials said.
Obama accepted his resignation and would formally announce the decision at 11:10 a.m. EST (1610 GMT), officials said.
Top potential candidates to replace Hagel include Michele Flournoy, a former under secretary of defense, and Ashton Carter, a former deputy secretary of defense, who were rumored to be contenders for Hagel's job before he was named.
Senator Jack Reed, Democrat of Rhode Island, is another possible contender. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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