President Donald Trump requested the resignation of the Pentagon’s third-ranking official, prompting the departure of Under Secretary of Defense for Policy John Rood. The Pentagon and the White House did not provide a public explanation for the decision.
Rood assumed the role in January 2018 under then Defense Secretary Mark Esper after previously serving in senior national security positions across several administrations, ABC News reported. In a resignation letter dated Feb. 19 and addressed to the president, Rood confirmed that the request for his departure came directly from the White House.
“It’s my understanding from Secretary Esper that you requested my resignation from serving as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy,” Rood wrote. “Senior administration officials appointed by the President serve at the pleasure of the President, and therefore, as you have requested, I am providing my resignation effective February 28, 2020.”
Trump later acknowledged the resignation publicly. In a tweet on Wednesday, the president thanked Rood for his service and wished him well in future endeavors.
Rood became connected to the impeachment inquiry involving the president after he certified to Congress in May that Ukraine had made “sufficient progress” on defense and corruption reforms to receive $250 million in U.S. security assistance.
The aid was later withheld by the White House. The Government Accountability Office later concluded the delay violated federal law.
During impeachment hearings, administration officials testified that the aid was allegedly tied to a request that Ukraine investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter.
Rood told reporters in December that he became aware the assistance had been delayed “significantly after May.”
He said he “never received a very clear explanation” for the hold on the funding.
Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman dismissed speculation that the resignation was related to the Ukraine matter.
“I have no information that would lead me to that conclusion,” Hoffman said during a Wednesday briefing.
Hoffman also declined to say whether Defense Secretary Mark Esper recommended Rood’s removal. A defense official told ABC News that Rood’s departure should not be linked to the impeachment inquiry.
Another former official said the resignation was more likely tied to policy disagreements over issues including Syria, North Korea, Iran and Ukraine.
Rood’s leadership style had also drawn criticism inside the department.
Foreign Policy reported in December that current and former officials blamed him for contributing to a toxic work environment and an exodus of senior staff.
Esper praised Rood’s service in a statement released by the Pentagon.
“I would like to thank John Rood for his service to the Department,” Esper said.
“John has played a critical role on a wide range of DoD issues including modernizing our nuclear deterrence capability, efforts to increase burden sharing by our NATO allies, our Missile Defense Review and implementing the National Defense Strategy,” he said.
“I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”
Pentagon press secretary Alyssa Farah said James Anderson will assume Rood’s responsibilities until a permanent replacement is nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
Anderson currently serves as the senior official performing the duties of the deputy under secretary of defense for policy.
Rood said in his resignation letter that his career in public service began with the Central Intelligence Agency in 1988.
He later worked at the State Department, Pentagon, National Security Council and on Capitol Hill before joining the private sector.
Rood previously held positions at Raytheon and Lockheed Martin.
“I thank you for giving me the privilege of again contributing in service to our Nation,” Rood wrote. “I leave with the utmost admiration for the outstanding team with which I worked at the Defense Department.”