Trump Places Army Secretary in Charge of Pentagon After Shanahan Withdraws From Consideration

President Donald Trump, left, in a May 20, 2019 photo; on right, Secretary of the Army Mark Esper in a file photo. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images; Department of Defense

President Donald Trump announced that Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan has withdrawn from consideration for the permanent job and revealed his replacement.

Trump took to Twitter on June 18, writing: “Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan, who has done a wonderful job, has decided not to go forward with his confirmation process so that he can devote more time to his family.”