Attorney General Eric Holder will announce today he's stepping down

Attorney General Eric Holder, the first African-American U.S. Attorney General is expected to announce his resignation on Thursday.

NPR reported Thursday morning that Holder intends to leave the Justice Department as soon as his successor is confirmed.

Holder is the fourth longest-serving Attorney General in U.S. history and one of the President Barack Obama's most enduring cabinet appointees. He is apparently eager to leave office, concerned that "he otherwise could be locked in to stay for much of the rest of President Obama's second term," wrote NPR's Carrie Johnson.

Holder's tenure has been marked by controversy as Republicans placed political obstacles in the path of virtually every Obama administration initiative and appointee. However, it was his recent intervention in Ferguson, Missouri and appearance before protesters that is believed to have calmed tensions in the St. Louis suburb.

Holder and President Barack Obama have reportedly been discussing the AG's departure for some time. Holder notified his staff and Justice Department employees on Thursday morning.