Navy Secretary Richard Spencer resigned Sunday at Defense Secretary Mark Esper’s request over a private compromise Spencer proposed to the White House that would have allowed a sailor accused of war crimes to retire as a SEAL rather than being kicked out of the elite force’s ranks, the Pentagon said.

Spencer‘s departure marks the latest development in a case that has pitted military leaders against President Donald Trump, whose desire to keep the sailor in the SEALs Spencer criticized in a letter to the president. It also adds to a year of turmoil at the Pentagon as Trump has cycled through top civilian leaders there.

Spencer kept Esper out of the loop on the proposal, which contradicted the Navy secretary’s public position that a board to potentially kick Chief Petty Officer Eddie Gallagher out of the SEALs should proceed despite Trump’s opposition. But Esper has also ordered that Gallagher remain a SEAL.

Esper sought Spencer’s resignation “after losing trust and confidence in him regarding his lack of candor over conversations with the White House involving the handling of Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher,” Pentagon spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman said in a statement. Esper received Spencer’s resignation this evening, Hoffman added.

But in a letter to Trump acknowledging his departure from the top Navy job, Spencer made no mention of the private deal, and said that he and the president had different views of “the key principle of good order and discipline.”

The Defense Department’s statement quoted Esper as saying: “I am deeply troubled by this conduct shown by a senior DOD official. Unfortunately, as a result I have determined that Secretary Spencer no longer has my confidence to continue in his position.” A spokesperson for Spencer referred queries to Esper’s office. The Washington Post first reported Esper’s request.