/tags/mark-esper mark esper en-US Copyright Mon, 09 Nov 2020 19:01:11 GMT /news-partners/2020-11-09/trump-terminates-secretary-of-defense-mark-esper Secretary Esper has kept a letter of resignation on hand since the summer, when he and the president disagreed over the use of active duty troops to put down street protests. Mon, 09 Nov 2020 19:01:11 GMT /news-partners/2020-11-09/trump-terminates-secretary-of-defense-mark-esper Tom Bowman /news-partners/2020-09-04/pentagon-says-it-will-close-stars-and-stripes-but-trump-says-it-wont-happen The Pentagon said the paper would shut down by Sept. 30. Shortly afterward President Trump tweeted that it won't happen "under my watch." Fri, 04 Sep 2020 18:56:00 GMT /news-partners/2020-09-04/pentagon-says-it-will-close-stars-and-stripes-but-trump-says-it-wont-happen Greg Myre /news-partners/2020-07-29/defense-secretary-esper-says-u-s-plans-to-cut-troops-in-germany-by-a-third The Pentagon is promising what President Trump declared in June would happen: Troops are to be moved out of Germany, which the president accuses of stiffing NATO. Wed, 29 Jul 2020 20:50:12 GMT /news-partners/2020-07-29/defense-secretary-esper-says-u-s-plans-to-cut-troops-in-germany-by-a-third David Welna /news-partners/2020-07-17/pentagon-chief-effectively-bars-display-of-confederate-battle-flag-by-u-s-military Defense Secretary Mark Esper doesn't actually ban the Confederate flag's display. He simply lists the flags that can be shown by the military, and the controversial banner is not on his list. Fri, 17 Jul 2020 17:33:39 GMT /news-partners/2020-07-17/pentagon-chief-effectively-bars-display-of-confederate-battle-flag-by-u-s-military David Welna /news-partners/2020-06-04/former-defense-secretary-mattis-issues-stunning-rebuke-of-trump Jim Mattis, who resigned as Trump's defense secretary nearly a year and a half ago, accuses the president of dividing the nation and warns against "militarizing our response" to protests. Thu, 04 Jun 2020 05:07:00 GMT /news-partners/2020-06-04/former-defense-secretary-mattis-issues-stunning-rebuke-of-trump Scott Neuman, Mark Katkov /news-partners/2020-06-03/pentagon-chief-rejects-trumps-threat-to-use-military-to-quell-unrest In a public break with President Trump, Defense Secretary Mark Esper says he does not support invoking the 1807 Insurrection Act and deploying troops to American streets. Wed, 03 Jun 2020 18:08:00 GMT /news-partners/2020-06-03/pentagon-chief-rejects-trumps-threat-to-use-military-to-quell-unrest David Welna /news-partners/2020-03-02/defense-secretary-gives-go-ahead-for-u-s-troops-to-start-afghan-drawdown A peace deal signed with the Taliban calls for 4,000 of the approximately 13,000 U.S. forces in Afghanistan to leave within 135 days and for all U.S. troops to be out within 14 months. Mon, 02 Mar 2020 19:39:45 GMT /news-partners/2020-03-02/defense-secretary-gives-go-ahead-for-u-s-troops-to-start-afghan-drawdown David Welna