Two top rank officials step down following Defense Secy Esper's termination

Two top civilian officials for policy and intelligence stepped down on Tuesday, a day after President Donald Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper. Trump's firing of Esper comes as he has refused to concede his election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.

Washington:After US President Donald Trump fired former Defence Secretary Mark Esper on Monday, two top-ranked Pentagon officials on Tuesday announced their resignation.

Retired Navy Vice Admiral Joseph Kernan, the Under Secretary of Defence for Intelligence left his position according to a defence official, reported CNN.

"I tendered my resignation as USD (I&S) which will take effect today. I want to thank all of you for your tireless commitment to our nation and supporting me personally over the last three years. It has been my honour to serve with all of you. My family and I have long planned this departure and I leave knowing that our efforts will continue given your unrelenting dedication to the security of this nation," said Kernan in a message to his colleagues upon his resignation.

Another official has claimed that Kernan had plans to leave the administration sometime after the election but his departure was accelerated, reported CNN.

Meanwhile,James Anderson, the top policy adviser at the Pentagon, alsosubmitted his resignation Tuesday, a day after President Donald Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper.

Anderson has been the acting undersecretary for policy since June. Previously he served as the deputy undersecretary since his confirmation for that job in August 2018.

Defense officials spoke about Anderson's resignation on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters.

A wide range of policy staff positions in the Pentagon have been filled with people on an acting basis over the past year or more, as a number of staff have left or have not been confirmed.

Chris Miller, who was tapped to serve as the Pentagon chief on Monday after Esper was fired, was in his second day in the building, meeting with top staff.

Read: Trump fires Defence Secretary Esper after election defeat

Trump's firing of Esper comes as he has refused to concede his election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.

Trump on Monday said that he had "terminated" Esper, and announced that Christopher C Miller, Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, would become the Acting Secretary of Defence.

Esper was appointed Secretary of Defence in 2019, replacing James Mattis.

(Inputs from agencies)