Iran War Exposes U.S. Munitions Strain as White House Weighs Replacing Pentagon Deputy

The White House has been quietly considering who could replace Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg, even as the Pentagon denies that a formal removal process is underway. Reuters, citing three people familiar with the matter, reported that the assessment began as early as June and continued through the end of August.

The White House recently contacted senior senators to gauge whether potential candidates could win Senate approval. The sources did not identify anyone under consideration or explain why Feinberg might be removed. A White House spokesperson said the administration had “no knowledge” of the anonymous reports, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Feinberg had his full support and “isn’t going anywhere.”

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No knowledge

Feinberg, a co-founder of private-equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, is one of the Pentagon’s highest-ranking officials and oversees the department’s daily operations. After taking office, he pledged to accelerate U.S. ammunition production. But the expansion of the American defense-industrial base has fallen short of expectations, while slow congressional funding has hindered efforts to increase output.

That pressure has become more visible during the six-month war with Iran. Reuters reported that the extended fighting has depleted parts of the U.S. weapons stockpile, while President Donald Trump has expressed frustration over the conflict’s failure to end and the pace of replenishment. If Feinberg leaves, he would become another senior Pentagon official to depart under Hegseth. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll announced his resignation this week, amid reported long-running tensions with Hegseth. Former Navy Secretary John Phelan and several senior Army generals have also left in recent months, adding to scrutiny of Pentagon leadership changes. For now, however, the White House has made no decision, and Hegseth continues to publicly support his deputy.

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Isn't going anywhere