John King Jr. becomes U.S. Education Secretary as Arne Duncan, resigns

Education Secretary Arne Duncan, one of the longest-serving members of President Barack Obama’s Cabinet, will step down in December, officials said Friday.

In a letter to his staff, Duncan said he is returning to Chicago to live with his family. He said he is not sure what he will do next, but that he hopes his future will “continue to involve the work of expanding opportunity for children.”

U.S. President Barack Obama has reluctantly accepted Arne’s resignation, saying he (Arne) has earned the right to return home as one of the longest-serving secretaries in the department’s history.

Obama has tapped John King Jr., – who has been serving as the deputy Education Secretary – to run the Education department for the remainder of his administration. Obama does not intend to nominate King or to nominate another education secretary during the rest of his presidency, but has instead asked King to serve in an acting capacity, said a White House official, who wasn’t authorized to comment by name and requested anonymity.

That approach will spare Obama a confirmation fight over a nominee in the Senate.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press