Stephen A. Feinberg-David Rush: 5 things to know about $40 million in gold from deputy defense secretary arrested for ties to ex-CIA operative
Stephen A. Feinberg, or Steve Feinberg, Deputy Secretary of Defense, with David RushFormer CIA officer arrested with $40 million worth of gold bars in his home. Rush was arrested last month and is currently under investigation by the FBI. Feinberg reportedly contacted the spy agency earlier this year to ask for closer cooperation with Rush, according to New York Times.
Rush and Feinberg have a working relationship, according to the publication. Before being fired, Rush worked with Peter HeggsThe publication noted that this was the second in a highly classified project focused on spying on China. Feinberg reportedly contacted a senior CIA official to ask Rush to take a greater role in the program.
According to officials, Feinberg was unaware of the investigation into Rush at the time, The New York Times reported. However, it suggests that Rush had the trust of some senior U.S. officials and that he may have defrauded the CIA of millions of dollars.
Stephen Feinberg-David Rush: A look at their relationship
Feinberg and Rush have reportedly known each other since at least the president’s time as chairman of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Council. Donald Trump ushered in his first term.
Rush was an officer in the CIA’s Science and Technology Directorate at the time. Feinberg, co-founder of private equity firm Cerberus Capital, reportedly became interested in this branch of the spy agency while serving on a White House advisory council.
While on the committee, Feinberg was tasked with advising the White House and spy agencies on intelligence collection and other matters. Feinberg contacted the CIA on Rush’s behalf in late March or early April, the publication reported. However, when officials learned of the investigation into Rush, he stopped attending Pentagon meetings.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in early June that reports of a relationship between Rush and Feinberg were “completely false and embellished.”
“Under Secretary Feinberg has never supported Mr. Rush’s career at any stage in his life or supported Mr. Rush in any career position,” he had said. Among them, here’s everything you need to know about Stephen Andrew Feinberg.
Stephen Feinberg: 5 things to know
- Feinberg was sworn in as Deputy Secretary of War on March 17, 2025. He was the 36th Under Secretary and oversaw the department’s name change from the Department of Defense to the Department of War.
- Feinberg serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the U.S. Department of Defense, responsible for the day-to-day management of the department and executing the strategic priorities of Secretary of War Heggs.
- Feinberg is described on Dow’s page as an “experienced executive.” He founded Cerberus Capital Management in 1992. Over the past decade, Feinberg has led Cerberus to focus on the U.S. defense industry and strengthen supply chain integrity. However, in 2013, Cerberus received negative attention for its stake in Freedom Group, which Forbes reported produced the rifles used in the Sandy Hook massacre.
- Feinberg graduated from Princeton University.
- According to Forbes, his net worth is estimated at $5 billion as of 2026.
