Steve Feinberg | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2025 | |
| 36th United States Deputy Secretary of Defense | |
| Assumed office March 17, 2025 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Kathleen Hicks |
| Chair of theIntelligence Oversight Board | |
| In office August 16, 2018 – January 20, 2021 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Neal S. Wolin |
| Succeeded by | vacant |
| Chair of thePresident's Intelligence Advisory Board | |
| In office May 12, 2018 – January 20, 2021 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Shirley Jackson Jami Miscik |
| Succeeded by | Sandy Winnefeld |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1960-03-29)March 29, 1960 (age 65) New York City, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Gisella Sanchez |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Princeton University (BA) |
Stephen Andrew Feinberg (born March 29, 1960) is an American businessman andinvestor who has served as the 36thUnited States deputy secretary of defense since 2025.[1][2] He is the co-founder and formerchief executive officer (CEO) ofCerberus Capital Management. Feinberg was also chair of thePresident's Intelligence Advisory Board from 2018 to 2021, during thefirst Trump administration.[3]
Feinberg was born to aJewish family[4][5] and raised inThe Bronx,New York. When aged eight, his family moved toSpring Valley, New York,[6] a suburb ofNew York City. His father was a steel salesman.[6] He graduated with aBachelor of Arts in politics fromPrinceton University in 1982 after completing a 94-page senior thesis titled "The Politics ofProstitution andDrug Legalization."[7][8] While a student at Princeton, Feinberg captained thetennis team and joined theReserve Officers' Training Corps.[6]
After graduating from college, Feinberg worked as a trader atDrexel Burnham in 1982 and later atGruntal & Co.[9]
In 1992, at the age of 32, Feinberg co-foundedCerberus Capital Management with William L. Richter[9] and $10 million under management; by 2024; its assets under management would grow past $60 billion.[10][11] In 1999, the firm hired former vice presidentDan Quayle as a chairman of Cerberus Global Investment.[12] In 2006, the firm hired formerUnited States Secretary of the TreasuryJohn Snow, who serves as a chairman of Cerberus.[13]
In May 2011, Feinberg stated that he believed residential mortgage-backed securities may present "a real opportunity for continued investment for quite a period of time"[14] and that there were opportunities in buying assets fromEuropean banks.
Feinberg has said of the pay received by himself and other private equity executives, "In general, I think that all of us are way overpaid in this business. It is almost embarrassing." He has also noted in comments made in 2011 that smaller private equity fund sizes may be better for investor returns: "If your goal is to maximize your return as opposed to assets under management, I think you can be most effective with a big company infrastructure and a little bit smaller fund size."[15]
Feinberg has been described as "secretive" inThe New York Times.[16] In 2007, Feinberg told Cerberus shareholders, "If anyone at Cerberus has his picture in the paper and a picture of his apartment, we will do more than fire that person. We will kill him. The jail sentence will be worth it."[17]
Cerberus ownedDynCorp, a majorprivate security contractor, from 2010 to 2020, leading to accusations of aconflict of interest during Feinberg's service on the President's Intelligence Advisory Board, and again after his nomination as Deputy Secretary of Defense.[18][19]
In March of 2025, he left his position as co-CEO ofCerberus Capital Management as he was sworn in as the 36thUnited States Deputy Secretary of Defense.
Feinberg is a major Republican donor.[20] In 2016, he served on the Trump Economic Advisory Council duringDonald Trump'spresidential campaign, donated nearly $1.5 million to pro-Trump PACs, and co-hosted a $50,000 per personRepublican National Committee and Trump fundraising dinner alongside other financiers.[21][22] In February 2017, theNew York Times reported that President Trump will assign Feinberg a role in the White House leading a review of the US intelligence agencies.[23]
On May 11, 2018, PresidentDonald Trump named Feinberg to head thePresident's Intelligence Advisory Board.[24]
Together with his spouse, Feinberg contributed $715,600 toDonald Trump's2020 presidential campaign.[25]
He is a member ofThe Business Council inWashington, D.C., an association of chief executive officers from a range of companies who meet several times a year for high-level policy discussions.[26][27]
In December 2024, incoming president Donald Trump offered to nominate Feinberg as theUnited States deputy secretary of defense, according to a reporter atThe Washington Post.[28] Trump confirmed this on December 22.[1]
As of February 19, severalDemocratic senators includingElizabeth Warren expressed concerns over his past experience and possibleconflicts of interest between his companyCerberus Capital Management and theUnited States Department of Defense.[29]
On February 25, 2025, during his confirmation hearing, Feinberg declined to say ifRussia invaded Ukraine when pressed by senators, and expressed support forlarge-scale firings within the Defense Department.[30]
On March 14, 2025, his nomination was confirmed by a 59–40 vote.[31][32] He was sworn in as the 36thUnited States Deputy Secretary of Defense on March 17, 2025.[33]
As of March 2025, his net worth isUS$5 billion.[34] He splits time between his homes onManhattan'sUpper East Side andGreenwich, Connecticut, with his wife Gisela (née Sanchez).[6]
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Chair of thePresident's Intelligence Advisory Board 2018–2021 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chair of theIntelligence Oversight Board 2018–2021 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | United States Deputy Secretary of Defense 2025–present | Incumbent |