DOD policy chief quits after Esper's firing

James Anderson, the acting under secretary of defense for policy, submitted his resignation today, an exit that follows President Trump's firing of former Defense Secretary Mark Esper, according to a defense official.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for additional information. The news was first reported by Politico.

In his resignation letter, Anderson told Trump it has been an honor to serve at the Pentagon and "now, as ever, our long-term success depends on adhering to the U.S. Constitution all public servants swear to support and defend."

Trump and other senior members of the GOP continue to dispute the results of the presidential election, which has been called in favor of President-elect Joe Biden. Trump and his political allies have been criticized for claiming mass voter fraud without supporting evidence.

Trump has also refused to begin transition activities that would prepare for the Biden administration.

Anderson will be succeeded by former Fox News contributor Anthony Tata, according to a DOD website. Tata is being elevated to the post despite having had to withdraw his official nomination for it in August after tweets were revealed in which he called former President Obama a Muslim and "terrorist leader" and also referred to Islam as "the most oppressive violent religion I know of."

After Tata's nomination derailed, Trump installed him in acting capacity at the No. 2 policy post without Senate approval.

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) said he believes “chaos has now reached the Pentagon.”

“It is hard to overstate just how dangerous high-level turnover at the Department of Defense is during a period of presidential transition,” he said. “The top policy professional in the department resigning the day after the secretary of defense was fired could mark the beginning of a process of gutting the DOD -- something that should alarm all Americans.”

Smith said if Trump’s recent DOD personnel moves were the “beginning of a trend,” then the days leading up to Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration “will be precarious at best and downright dangerous at worst.”