# Steve Feinberg Deputy Secretary of Defense (confirmed March 14, 2025) and co-founder of Cerberus Capital Management, a private equity firm with extensive defense and government services holdings. Feinberg represents the private equity branch of the defense capture network — while [[Peter Thiel]]'s companies win the tech contracts, Feinberg's companies handle the services and operations side. ## Background - Co-founded Cerberus Capital Management, a private equity firm with $60B+ AUM - Cerberus portfolio has included defense/government services companies: DynCorp (military services contractor), Navistar Defense (military vehicles), and multiple IT services firms - Previously served as Chair of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board during Trump's first term (2018–2021) - **March 14, 2025**: Confirmed by Senate as 36th Deputy Secretary of Defense (59–40 vote) - **March 17, 2025**: Sworn in ## Conflicts of Interest ### The Cerberus Problem Feinberg filed paperwork claiming divestment from Cerberus, but ProPublica found an unusual clause: he is **allowed to continue contracting with Cerberus** for tax compliance, accounting services, and healthcare coverage — a financial relationship that could continue **indefinitely**. ### DOD Contracts to Cerberus Companies At least **four Cerberus-owned companies** have been awarded DOD contracts since his confirmation: - North Wind - Stratolaunch - Red River Technology - NetCentrics Corp ### Golden Dome Oversight Feinberg oversees the office managing the **[[Golden Dome]] for America** missile defense project — modeled on Israel's Iron Dome — a program that could direct billions to contractors including those in the Thiel/[[Founders Fund]] network ([[SpaceX]] expected to receive ~$2B for satellite constellation). ### Maven Expansion As Deputy SecDef, Feinberg oversees the expansion of [[Project Maven]] — the AI targeting system now designated a permanent core military program, with [[Palantir]] as prime contractor at $1.3B+. In March 2026, Feinberg sent the letter designating Maven as an official program of record by September 2026. ### Epstein Connection POGO documented financial ties between Feinberg and Jeffrey Epstein — the exact nature and extent of which remain under investigation. ## The Warren Challenge Senator [[Elizabeth Warren]] laid out formal concerns before Feinberg's confirmation hearing, citing: - Cerberus's extensive defense portfolio creating structural conflicts - The inadequacy of his proposed divestment structure - The indefinite financial relationship with Cerberus - His role overseeing procurement decisions that could benefit his former firm's portfolio companies ## Role in Defense Tech Ecosystem Feinberg is the **number two civilian at the Pentagon** under [[Pete Hegseth]], making him directly responsible for overseeing: - The [[Palantir $10B Army Contract]] - The [[Anduril $20B Army Contract]] - The [[Thunderforge Program]] ([[Scale AI]] + [[Anduril]] + Microsoft) - [[Project Maven]]'s expansion to program-of-record status - Golden Dome satellite defense contracts He sits at the nexus of procurement authority and private financial interest — the classic conflict position, now at unprecedented scale. ## See Also - [[Defense Tech Conflicts of Interest]] - [[Revolving Door]] - [[Pete Hegseth]] - [[Project Maven]] - [[Military-Industrial Complex 2.0]]