Hegseth under fire over Pentagon turmoil, but Trump signals continued support

Embattled US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth remains in post with President Donald Trump’s backing, despite growing concerns within the Pentagon over the department’s ability to function in a national security crisis, amid firings, leaks and misconduct allegations.

Trump on April 21 dismissed the controversy engulfing Hegseth, telling reporters the former Fox News host and Army National Guard veteran was “doing a great job,” even as critics labelled the situation a “meltdown,” Caliber.Az reports, per US media.

Senior defence officials have expressed alarm at the deterioration of Hegseth’s inner circle, warning of the potential implications should a security emergency arise. Hegseth is accused of disclosing sensitive details of a military operation in Yemen to his wife, brother, and personal lawyer using the encrypted messaging app Signal – a charge he denies.

Speaking outside the White House during the annual Easter Egg Roll, Hegseth railed against what he called “hit pieces” by the media, blaming “disgruntled former employees” for leaking information to damage his reputation. “It’s not going to work with me,” he said, insisting he remained in lockstep with Trump.

The controversy deepened following a New York Times report that Hegseth on March 15 revealed key information about an upcoming bombing campaign in Yemen to non-governmental contacts. The episode coincided with a separate incident involving National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, who mistakenly added The Atlantic magazine’s editor to a Signal chat group meant for coordinating the strikes.

Former defence officials say the level of detail shared would typically be considered highly classified, raising fresh questions about the Pentagon’s handling of operational security.

The Pentagon turmoil stretches back weeks. An earlier report alleged tech billionaire Elon Musk was to receive a briefing that included classified details on US war plans for China. Trump, reportedly disturbed by the disclosure, intervened directly. That incident, officials say, triggered a wave of paranoia within Hegseth’s circle, culminating in the firing of three senior appointees — Dan Caldwell, Colin Carroll, and Darin Selnick — accused of leaking to the press.

In a joint statement, the trio denied wrongdoing and claimed they had not been presented with any evidence or a formal investigation into the alleged leaks. Speaking to conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, Caldwell said he had not been asked to submit his phone or undergo a polygraph test and suggested the investigation was “weaponised” against him and others.

“If I actually did some of the things that anonymous people in the Pentagon said I did, I’d be in handcuffs,” Caldwell told Carlson.

Sources say Hegseth now intends to remove his chief of staff, Joe Kasper, and may install Marine Corps Colonel Ricky Buria, currently on terminal leave, as senior adviser or deputy chief of staff. Buria, who served under former Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin during the Biden administration, must obtain a waiver to retain his current rank upon retirement.

A former spokesperson for Hegseth, John Ullyot, recently broke ranks, publishing an opinion piece in Politico calling into question Hegseth’s leadership. Ullyot, who was dismissed last month, said the Pentagon had endured “a month of total chaos.”

Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for Trump, dismissed criticism of Hegseth as part of a coordinated effort to undermine him, claiming the “entire Pentagon” was working against the secretary.

Meanwhile, Republican Congressman Don Bacon, a retired Air Force general, warned against partisan responses to the allegations. “If a Democrat did this, we’d be demanding a scalp,” he said. “We should be Americans first when it comes to security.”

It remains to be seen how long Trump’s support for Hegseth will endure, as the White House weighs the political cost of ongoing disorder within the Department of Defence.

By Aghakazim Guliyev