The White House announced Thursday that President Trump will nominate acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan as the permanent secretary.

“Trump will announce a new cabinet nomination today: Patrick Shanahan for defense secretary, sources tell me,” Bloomberg White House reporter Jennifer Jacobs tweeted Thursday afternoon.



SCOOP: Trump will announce a new cabinet nomination today: Patrick Shanahan for defense secretary, sources tell me. — Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) May 9, 2019



The White House confirmed the tweet.

"Based upon his outstanding service to the Country and his demonstrated ability to lead, President Trump intends to nominate Patrick M. Shanahan to be the Secretary of Defense," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement released on Twitter.

"Acting Secretary Shanahan has proven over the last several months that he is beyond qualified to lead the Department of Defense, and he will continue to do an excellent job," Sanders said.

[ Related: Pentagon ethics probe exonerates Patrick Shanahan, clearing way for nomination as defense secretary]



President Trump intends to nominate Patrick M. Shanahan as Secretary of Defense. pic.twitter.com/RaOXb09qMr — Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) May 9, 2019



Shanahan took over as acting secretary after James Mattis resigned his position earlier this year.

This is a developing story.