WASHINGTON (AP) — The fight in Congress over confirming Leon Panetta's successor as defense secretary is getting on his nerves.

After two formal Pentagon farewell ceremonies and weeks of preparing Chuck Hagel to take over, Panetta let fly Thursday with a few choice words for the partisan struggle on Capitol Hill over a Hagel confirmation vote.

Panetta, who will retire to his home in California to resume running a public policy institute with his wife, Sylvia, told a Pentagon award ceremony for former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton that it was fitting to recognize her on Valentine's Day.