MSNBC: Obama 'Concerned' He Might Lose Hagel Nomination Fight said MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell. The Kerry announcement "is not going to be what was originally contemplated--the entire national security team, CIA, Defense. There's a big controversy now over Chuck Hagel, The president had been strongly considering Chuck Hagel for defense secretary--and still is, we are told--he has not backed off of that. But there is fierce opposition building up."