White House Press Secretary Jay Carney steps down

WASHINGTON (KABC) -- White House Press Secretary Jay Carney is stepping down from his position, President Barack Obama announced Friday.

Mr. Obama has named Josh Earnest, Carney's No. 2, to replace him.

A reason for Carney's resignation was not immediately known.

Carney spent three and a half years as the president's primary spokesman. Mr. Obama called Carney's departure "bittersweet."

The transition will happen sometime in mid-June, though Earnest will take Carney's place when the president travels to Europe next week.

Carney will take the summer off before getting a new job. So far he's made no decision on what his next move will be, though he did shoot down rumors that he would serve as ambassador to Russia.

Earlier in the day, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki resigned amid widespread troubles with veterans' health care.

ABC News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.