Chuck Hagel

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is weighing a slimmed-down list of candidates to become his next defense secretary, as top contenders pull their names from consideration for what is typically a highly sought-after Cabinet spot.

President Barack Obama is expected to announce today that Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel is stepping down from his post.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Air Force's nuclear missile corps faces new strains after dozens more officers were implicated in an investigation of cheating on missile-launch proficiency tests. The number implicated in the probe has roughly doubled from the original 34 officers, meaning that about 14 percent of all launch officers are now sidelined.

Chuck Hagel, whose confirmation hearing in the Senate was highly contentious, was finally confirmed today as the next secretary of defense by a vote of 58-41.

On Monday President Obama nominated former Senator Chuck Hagel to the post of secretary of defense and current counterterrorism adviser John Brennan as director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Both nominees may run into problems getting confirmed to their positions by the Senate.