Top Pentagon spokeswoman resigns on New Year's Eve amid internal probe

Dana White was being investigated by the Defense Department's inspector general for misconduct and abuse of power before her abrupt departure.

Dec. 31, 2018 / 4:53 PM EST
By Dareh Gregorian

The Pentagon's top spokeswoman — who was being investigated for misconduct by the Defense Department — abruptly announced her resignation Monday on Twitter.

The New Year's Eve tweet from Dana W. White came hours after outgoing Defense Secretary James Mattis sent his farewell message to department employees.

"I appreciate the opportunity afforded to me by this administration to serve alongside Secretary Mattis, our Service members and all the civilians who support them. It has been my honor and privilege," White tweeted on Monday.

Link to tweet

The resignation is apparently immediate — Charles Summers Jr. is set to become acting assistant to the defense secretary for public affairs on Tuesday, a military official told NBC News.

White, author of "Leader Designed: Become the Leader You Were Made to Be," was being investigated by the DoD's inspector general for allegedly forcing her subordinates to run personal errands and removing staffers who complained about her.

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