Trump eyes defense shake-up: Feinberg for deputy, DeSantis as backup

According to the newspaper, it is unclear whether the billionaire has accepted the President-elect's offer. Feinberg served as the head of the advisory team on intelligence during Trump's first administration. He currently leads the Cerberus Capital Management fund, which invests in hypersonic missiles, and previously managed DynCorp, a company that services aircraft for the Pentagon.

As noted by "The Washington Post," the deputy chief of the department is typically responsible for the day-to-day management of the bureaucratic operations within the Pentagon. Choosing someone with experience in leading large organizations and a strong reputation in the field could alleviate establishment concerns about the candidate for Pentagon chief, Fox News presenter Pete Hegseth, who lacks such experience.

Controversies surrounding Hegseth, who faced allegations of sexual assault, persist. According to an article published Sunday in "The New Yorker," Hegseth allegedly had to step down from a veteran organization he led due to allegations of financial irregularities, sexist behavior, and alcohol abuse.

On Monday, the candidate met with a group of Republican senators who will decide on approving his nomination. According to "The Wall Street Journal," he is the most uncertain of approval among Trump's nominees, and several senators expressed a desire to further investigate the allegations against Hegseth.

As "The Wall Street Journal" notes, Donald Trump is considering replacing his chosen candidate for Pentagon chief, Pete Hegseth, with former rival and Governor Ron DeSantis.

Like Hegseth, DeSantis is a veteran—he served as a lawyer in the Navy, including at the Guantanamo base—and similarly, he is a critic of inclusivity in the armed forces (Hegseth, for instance, opposed women's service in combat roles). The journal notes, however, that if the Fox News journalist's candidacy fails, Trump may consider a candidate other than DeSantis.

Hegseth might become the third person nominated by Donald Trump for top positions in the new administration whose candidacy falters even before the President-elect's inauguration. Previously, under Trump's pressure, attorney general candidate Matt Gaetz withdrew due to allegations of paying for intimacy with a 17-year-old, along with the candidate for head of the DEA, Chad Chronister, who faced criticism from conservatives for arresting a pastor in Florida who violated restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.