Trump picks billionaire Feinberg to bolster Pentagon bolsters Hegseth

Donald Trump’s choice of billionaire financier Stephen Feinberg as the No. 2 official at the Pentagon is part of a move by the president-elect to support Pete Hegseth, his pick for defense secretary, with the representative focusing on bringing business experience and new technology. We do. ,

Feinberg is the co-founder and majority owner of Cerberus Capital Management LP and has a net worth of approximately $7.7 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The private equity firm has large investments in defense technology companies. If confirmed by the Senate, Feinberg will take on a job historically focused on practical management of the Pentagon and related concerns such as industrial production.

The role of representatives at the Pentagon has become increasingly important in the incoming administration. Trump’s selection of Hegseth to lead a complex bureaucracy with a budget of more than $840 billion has faced opposition because of his limited management experience. Additionally, the former Fox News host, who served in the Army National Guard in Iraq and Afghanistan, has denied allegations of sexual misconduct, alcohol abuse and mismanagement at the two veterans organizations he led. His confirmation by the Senate remains uncertain.

Hegseth’s public comments focused on fulfilling Trump’s pledge to crack down on what he viewed as “woke” initiatives at the Pentagon.

Announcing his choice for deputy defense secretary on Sunday, Trump called Feinberg “an extremely successful businessman”, and also said he would nominate:

Clementine Starling-Daniels, director of the Atlantic Council’s Forward Defense Program, said, “Especially with Feinberg’s appointment, it signals a more business-oriented approach to managing the Department of Defense”. “There are some real benefits to taking a different approach,” he said, but there are also risks in supporting new, smaller-scale projects that could harm “larger complex programs” such as Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-35 fighter. plane.

Some of Cerberus’ portfolio companies have invested in hypersonic missile technology with both civilian and military applications. Additionally, one of its companies, Tier 1 Group, provided paramilitary training to Saudis who later participated in the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, as The New York Times reported in 2021.

Starling-Daniels also cited the limited experience of Trump’s top choice with the Pentagon’s complex bureaucracy. “If you don’t have a balance between a secretary of defense and a deputy secretary of defense who is really familiar with how the department works, then I’m concerned that no matter what the policy priorities are, actually implementing them.” It will be difficult,” she says. Said.

Colby, who will be the Pentagon’s policy chief, served as deputy assistant secretary of defense at the beginning of Trump’s first term. He has supported Trump’s vision of ending the US role as a “global policeman” and supported calls from allies to boost defense spending so the US can focus on the strategic threat from China – a theme Which he has published in his book, The Strategy of Denial. In 2021.

Trump wrote on social media, “A highly respected advocate for our America First foreign and defense policy, Bridge is a great support to my outstanding Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, to restore our military strength and achieve my policy of peace through strength. Will work together with.” When announcing the selection, using Colby’s nickname.

As acquisition chief, Duffy will be on the front lines of the decision whether the Pentagon cuts traditional projects like the F-35 and instead turns to Silicon Valley for drones and AI. Billionaire Elon Musk, who has become a top adviser to Trump, has said that “some idiots are still building manned fighter jets like the F-35” in the age of drones.

Overseeing Pentagon spending in the Office of Management and Budget in Trump’s first term, Duffy directed the Pentagon to withhold $250 million in military aid to Ukraine, while Trump sought to investigate Joe Biden over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Were putting pressure for.

Michael, who will head research and engineering, was ousted from Uber in 2017 amid turmoil over allegations of a toxic workplace culture.

“Emil will ensure that our military has the most technologically sophisticated weapons in the world, while saving a lot of money for our taxpayers,” Trump said in one post.

Trump also announced that Joe Casper would serve as chief of staff to the Secretary of Defense. Casper was a former Pentagon official in Trump’s first term before being appointed as deputy assistant secretary of state at the Department of Homeland Security.

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