Leaked Pentagon letter exposes deep discontent with Defense Secretary

An internal effort is underway among Pentagon officials to publicly denounce Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth as unfit for office.

Since May, drafts of a letter criticizing Hegseth’s leadership have circulated among military and civilian personnel at various levels, with complaints ranging from politicized decision-making to widespread dysfunction and low morale, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

“They want the American public to know this guy has no clue what he’s doing,” one Pentagon insider said.

Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, dismissed the letter as “palace intrigue” and “sensationalized mainstream media gossip” that Americans “don’t care about.” He emphasized, “They care about action.”

The three officials who spoke—two military and one civilian, each with over 20 years of experience—warned that publicizing the letter could jeopardize their careers, especially under the current administration. The letter’s release is tentatively planned for next week, marking Hegseth’s six months in office.

According to insiders, the letter outlines numerous grievances: Hegseth’s disregard for input from intelligence, legal, and security advisors; chaotic policy-making; and a paranoid atmosphere driven by his obsession with rooting out dissent. They cite the Defence Secretary’s fixation on optics—such as installing a makeup studio at the Pentagon, staging fitness photo ops, and imposing strict grooming standards, including a controversial shaving policy that disproportionately affects Black servicemembers with skin conditions.

One official remarked, “With everything that’s happening in the world, he’s choosing to focus on razor bumps. Seriously?”

The letter also criticizes Hegseth’s unilateral decision to deploy 4,000 National Guard troops in response to immigration protests in Los Angeles—an action deemed unwise by many inside the Pentagon.

Further, the officials accuse Hegseth of undermining diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, fostering racial tensions, and prompting suspicion among minority service members regarding their evaluations.

Parnell defended Hegseth’s record, citing “record-high” recruiting numbers, NATO allies meeting spending targets, and the “flawless success” of the US strike on Iranian nuclear sites on June 22. “The DoD’s historic accomplishments thus far are proof of Secretary Hegseth’s bold leadership,” he said.

The dissenting group formed in May, agreeing to craft a letter to expose what they view as incompetence, considering options for anonymous broad engagement to avoid retaliation. As one official stated, “We need to believe it’s possible.”

Hegseth’s tenure has been marred by controversy, including a scandal involving a leaked group chat about a military strike, and criticism over his handling of military affairs. His close alignment with President Trump’s “America First” policies and recent withdrawal of Pentagon officials from the Aspen Security Forum has further fueled concerns about his leadership style and isolationist tendencies within the military.

By Vafa Guliyeva