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Hagel resigning as US defence secretary: Source

WASHINGTON — Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel is stepping down from President Barack Obama’s Cabinet, senior administration officials said today (Nov 24), following a tenure in which he has struggled to break through the White House’s insular foreign policy team.

In this Oct 30, 2014, file photo, Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel listens to a question during a briefing at the Pentagon. Photo: AP

In this Oct 30, 2014, file photo, Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel listens to a question during a briefing at the Pentagon. Photo: AP

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WASHINGTON — Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel is stepping down from President Barack Obama’s Cabinet, senior administration officials said today (Nov 24), following a tenure in which he has struggled to break through the White House’s insular foreign policy team.

A senior defence official said that Mr Hagel submitted his resignation letter to Mr Obama this morning and the president accepted it. Mr Hagel agreed to remain in office until his successor is confirmed by the Senate, the official said.

The official said both Mr Hagel and Mr Obama “determined that it was time for new leadership in the Pentagon”, adding that they had been discussing the matter over a period of several weeks.

Mr Obama was to announce Hagel’s resignation today. The president is not expected to nominate a new Pentagon chief today, according to one official.

The officials insisted on anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the matter by name ahead of Mr Obama’s official announcement.

Mr Hagel is a Republican who served as senator from Nebraska and became a critic of U.S. involvement in Iraq. Obama nominated him to succeed Leon Panetta as Defense Secretary in his second term.

Mr Hagel served in the Vietnam War and received two Purple Hearts. AP

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