{"id":32892,"date":"2020-02-19T16:00:36","date_gmt":"2020-02-19T16:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/02\/19\/rood-pentagon-policy-chief-to-exit-says-trump\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:20:46","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:20:46","slug":"rood-pentagon-policy-chief-to-exit-says-trump","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/management\/leadership\/2020\/02\/19\/rood-pentagon-policy-chief-to-exit-says-trump\/","title":{"rendered":"DoD policy chief John Rood forced out"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The Pentagon\u2019s top policy official has been pushed out of the department, potentially as part of the fallout from the Ukraine military aid issue at the center of the impeachment of President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John Rood, undersecretary of defense for policy, is departing at the end of the month \u2015 a move that leaves yet another significant vacancy<\/a> at the top of the Pentagon\u2019s senior civilian leadership. In his resignation letter to Trump on Wednesday, Rood said he was told the president asked that he resign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s my understanding from [Defense] Secretary [Mark] Esper that you requested my resignation,\u201d Rood said in the letter, adding that he serves at the president\u2019s pleasure, \u201cand therefore, as you have requested, I am providing my resignation effective February 28, 2020.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Less than an hour before the letter was made public, Trump confirmed the news first reported by CNN: \u201cI would like to thank John Rood for his service to our Country, and wish him well in his future endeavors!\u201d Trump tweeted<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rood was not only a main Pentagon contact for international partners and allies, but a top figure in implementing the administration\u2019s capstone National Defense Strategy, meant to guide major defense budgeting and policy decisions since its release in 2018. He leaves without a permanent deputy, as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities James Anderson<\/a> has been performing the duties of Rood\u2019s deputy since David Trachtenberg<\/a> retired in July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an already understaffed policy directorate, Anderson is set to take over Rood\u2019s responsibilities until Trump selects a replacement and the Senate confirms that person. That\u2019s likely to tilt the civilian-military balance in favor of the military\u2019s uniformed officers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is really bad for civilian-military relations,\u201d one former senior defense official said of Rood\u2019s ouster. \u201cYou might as well put up a sign that says the Joint Staff will be running things until further notice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rood had become a source of frustration among Pentagon officials, according to congressional sources and a Foreign Policy article<\/a> two months ago. FP cited current and former administration officials to report that Rood was responsible for a toxic work environment \u2015 and that he was a \u201cmajor contributor to the departures and the Pentagon\u2019s struggle to fill the empty posts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That former official said despite Rood\u2019s reputation as a micromanager who was abusive to staff, it was plausible Trump targeted Rood for his role in Washington\u2019s impeachment drama. Trump has, in recent weeks, ousted key impeachment witnesses<\/a>: Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland and Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman<\/a>, who had been the top Ukraine expert on the National Security Council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhatever the management deficiencies, I don\u2019t think that\u2019s what\u2019s at issue,\u201d the former official said of Rood\u2019s forced resignation. \u201cThe president is on a revenge tour.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rood had certified that Ukraine was making efforts to reform its internal politics, a condition on its receiving $250 million in military aid. The impeachment inquiry alleged the president temporarily withheld that aid in exchange for Ukraine announcing an investigation into his political rivals, though the president and his defenders argued he had been concerned about Ukrainian corruption.<\/p>\n\n\n\t