Pentagon confirms billionaire Feinberg as deputy defense secretary

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
15 Mar 2025 08:49

Billionaire Stephen Feinberg will now oversee the Department of Defense’s (DOD) daily operations as deputy secretary.

Listen

Stephen Feinberg appears before the Senate Armed Services Committee for his confirmation hearing, on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Tuesday, February 25, 2025. (AP)

The Pentagon has confirmed billionaire Stephen Feinberg as the new Deputy Secretary of Defense.

"Congratulations to Stephen Feinberg, our NEW Deputy Secretary of Defense! His appointment is well-deserved and he’s the right man for the job—the stakes couldn’t be higher. Let's get to work!" Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on X.

Congratulations to Stephen Feinberg, our NEW Deputy Secretary of Defense! His appointment is well-deserved and he’s the right man for the job—the stakes couldn’t be higher. Let's get to work!
— Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) March 14, 2025

Feinberg previously served as chair of the Intelligence Oversight Board from 2018 to 2021 under US President Donald Trump.

The Senate confirmed his appointment in a 59-40 vote on Friday.

Stephen Feinberg, a Princeton University graduate from the class of 1982, co-founded Cerberus Capital Management and remains its majority owner.

He has reportedly backed planned dismissals at the Pentagon. During a February Senate hearing, Feinberg declined to say whether Russia initiated the conflict in Ukraine, stating he did not believe he should "publicly comment in the middle of a tense negotiation" while being "not privy to the facts."

US President Donald Trump, who nominated him for the role, praised Feinberg as "an extremely successful businessman" who can help "make the Pentagon great again."

As Deputy Secretary of Defense, Feinberg will now oversee the Department of Defense’s (DOD) daily operations.