Patel installed as Pentagon chief of staff after Trump fires Defense Secretary Esper

President Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper on November 9, 2020, and installed Christopher Miller as acting secretary. Kash Patel was named Miller's chief of staff the next day, giving him control over the Pentagon transition process with the incoming Biden administration. Patel blocked some career defense officials from sharing information with Biden transition staff and recast policy descriptions to reflect favorably on Trump policies before passing them to the incoming team.