What the fuck is happening at the Pentagon?

By: E.C. Browne 

Among a myriad of feel-good photo ops and public announcements while the "Signalgate" investigation takes place, yet another high level resignation at the Pentagon is drawing bipartisan concern. 

A recent article announced Joe Kasper, Chief of Staff to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, is expected to step down in the coming days to take on a new role within the department, according to a senior administration official. His departure comes during yet another turbulent week for the Pentagon.

This week, senior adviser Dan Caldwell, Hegseth’s deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll, Chief of Staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg, were placed on administrative leave as part of an ongoing investigation into leaks. All three were subsequently fired on Friday, according to three individuals familiar with the situation, who were granted anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the matter.

These developments add to recent instability within the Pentagon, following the fallout from Hegseth’s disclosure of sensitive information in a Signal chat with other national security figures and a controversial department visit by Elon Musk.

Caldwell, Carroll, Selnick, and Kasper all declined to comment. Two sources said Carroll and Selnick are planning to pursue legal action for wrongful termination. The Pentagon has not issued a response to requests for comment.

In March, Kasper had initiated a probe into Pentagon leaks, which reportedly included sensitive topics such as military operational plans for the Panama Canal, the deployment of a second aircraft carrier to the Red Sea, Musk’s visit, and a pause in intelligence collection for Ukraine.

However, tensions within the building were becoming apparent, with reports of friction between Kasper and the aides who were dismissed.

“Joe didn’t like those guys,” said one defense official. “They all have different styles. They just didn’t get along. It was a personality clash.”

With these changes, Hegseth’s front office is now without a chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, or senior adviser.

“There is a complete meltdown in the building, and this is really reflecting on the secretary’s leadership,” said a senior defense official. “Pete Hegseth has surrounded himself with some people who don’t have his interests at heart.”

The firings follow a February shake-up in which top military officials, including former Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. C.Q. Brown and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti, were removed.

“There probably will be more chaos,” a third defense official said. “It certainly reinforces the fear factor, awareness that no one’s job is safe.”

Some within the Pentagon are now questioning what these changes mean for Hegseth, who is still seen as a relatively inexperienced leader at the Defense Department and has now lost several key advisers.

“The front office has some really first-rate uniformed military staff, but there’s only so much they can pick up in an organization that big,” said a former Trump administration official. “That kind of dysfunction compounds.”

Democratic officials have cited the terminations as further evidence of Hegseth’s shortcomings as Defense Secretary.

“Everyone knew that Pete Hegseth did not possess the leadership qualities, background, or experience to be Secretary of Defense,” said Chris Meagher, who served as assistant Defense secretary for public affairs during the Biden administration. “Everything we’ve seen since then — the firing of several American heroes because of perceived lack of loyalty, the sloppiness of Signalgate, the complete lack of transparency, and now several political staff being shown the door — has only confirmed he doesn’t have what it takes to lead.”