Pentagon Leadership Crisis Deepens as Fired Officials Speak Out
The Department of Defense faces an escalating leadership crisis as former officials break their silence following controversial firings last week. John Ullyot, the Pentagon’s former top spokesperson who resigned amid the turmoil, published a blistering op-ed Sunday describing the department as in “total chaos” under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s leadership, according to BBC News.
“The dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president – who deserves better from his senior leadership,” Ullyot wrote in Politico, directly challenging the administration’s public narrative that all is well at the Pentagon. His criticism comes as Hegseth faces mounting pressure over reports of sharing sensitive military information in private Signal chats that included family members.
The timing is particularly problematic as Hegseth last week fired three top officials for what he described as an “unauthorized disclosure” – an accusation the officials have characterized as “baseless.” These dismissals now appear potentially connected to revelations about Hegseth’s own controversial information sharing practices.
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Accusations and Counter-Accusations Fly
Ullyot’s op-ed directly contradicts claims that the fired officials were leaking information, stating: “It was not true that the three fired officials were leaking information.” He further alleged that “Hegseth’s team has developed a habit of spreading flat-out, easily debunked falsehoods anonymously about their colleagues on their way out the door.”
These extraordinary accusations from a former insider suggest deeper institutional problems than previously acknowledged. When questioned about the growing controversy during Monday’s White House Easter Egg Roll, Hegseth appeared to attribute the negative stories to retribution from the officials he fired, according to The Guardian.
“What a big surprise that a few leakers get fired and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out,” Hegseth told reporters, describing the reporting as “hit pieces” from “disgruntled former employees.”
Republican Lawmaker Expresses Concerns
The controversy has begun attracting bipartisan concern on Capitol Hill. Representative Don Bacon, a Republican who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, expressed significant reservations about Hegseth’s leadership and handling of sensitive information.
“I had concerns from the get-go because Pete Hegseth didn’t have a lot of experience,” said Bacon, a former Air Force general. “I find it unacceptable and I wouldn’t tolerate it if I was in charge,” he added, stopping just short of explicitly calling for resignation.
This rare criticism from within the president’s own party suggests the controversy may not be easily dismissed as partisan politics. Bacon’s military background lends particular weight to his assessment of Hegseth’s security practices, according to The Independent.
White House Closes Ranks Around Hegseth
Despite the growing criticism, the White House has demonstrated unwavering support for the embattled defense secretary. President Trump told reporters Monday that Hegseth is “doing a great job” and that “everybody’s happy with him.”
“Are you bringing up Signal again? I thought they gave that up two weeks ago. It’s the same old stuff from the media,” Trump said dismissively. “Try finding something new.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt quickly denied an NPR report suggesting a search for Hegseth’s replacement was already underway, underscoring the administration’s public commitment to standing by their appointee despite the controversy.
According to sources familiar with the situation, Trump called Hegseth on Sunday after the story broke about his second Signal chat and assured him of his support. The president reportedly blamed “disgruntled leakers” for the negative coverage and instructed his team to back Hegseth publicly.
Pentagon’s Current Spokesman Strikes Back
Current Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell has aggressively defended Hegseth, claiming on social media platform X that the “Trump-hating media” was “destroying anyone committed to President Trump’s agenda.”
Parnell echoed the White House position that “there was no classified information in any Signal chat,” though critics note this defense sidesteps the core concern about sharing sensitive operational details with individuals lacking appropriate security clearances or operational need-to-know.
The contrasting public statements from former and current Pentagon officials highlight the extraordinary internal divisions that have developed within the Defense Department. With $892 billion under management this year, the Pentagon requires stable leadership to effectively execute its global mission.
As these tensions play out publicly, questions remain about how the internal dysfunction might affect military operations and national security decision-making during an already challenging geopolitical period marked by conflicts in multiple regions and escalating great power competition.
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