Pentagon Official Who Certified Aid for Ukraine Is Forced Out

The Pentagon’s top policy official, who warned against the Trump administration’s effort to block Ukraine’s military aid last year, is stepping down from his post at the end of the month, Department of Defense press secretary Alyssa Farah said in a statement. The Pentagon’s statement did not explain why John Rood, undersecretary of defense for policy, is leaving. CNN reports he was asked to resign after losing the support of national-security leaders. Farah said James Anderson, the current senior official performing the duties of the deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, will take over for Rood until President Trump has chosen a permanent successor. “I would like to thank John Rood for his service to the Department,” Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said.