Department of Defense

Long at Odds With Trump, Defense Secretary Esper Has Prepared a Resignation Letter, Say Officials

But defense officials say Esper prepared his letter because he is one of the Cabinet officials long expected to be pushed out after the election

Mark Esper, U.S. Secretary of Defense, speaks during a news conference at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, Oct. 26, 2020.
T. Narayan/Bloomberg via Getty Images (File)

Defense Secretary Mark Esper has prepared a letter of resignation, according to an NBC News report citing three current defense officials.

It's not uncommon for Cabinet secretaries to prepare undated letters of resignation during a presidential transition, giving the commander in chief the chance to replace them for a second term. The president decides whether to accept the resignation letters, and the process usually occurs after the election results are clear.

But defense officials say Esper prepared his letter because he is one of the Cabinet officials long expected to be pushed out after the election.

As his tenure may be coming to an end, Esper is helping members of Congress draft legislation that will strip names of Confederate leaders from military bases in a move that could put him further at odds with President Donald Trump.

Get the full story at NBCNews.com.


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