The head of the Defense Innovation Unit, a champion of acquisition reform who was instrumental in the Pentagon’s push to rapidly build and deploy new technology, resigned Friday due to political pressure, according to Defense Department sources.

Doug Beck served as principal staff assistant to the defense secretary, reporting directly to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. But Pentagon officials had raised concerns about Beck’s political donations to Democrats, Reuters reported. And defense officials told Defense One that because Beck was appointed during the Biden administration, it was widely thought that he would eventually be asked to resign.

DIU declined to comment on the story and Beck could not be reached. However, one defense official said he had hoped to continue in his role a

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