Pentagon leadership vacuum overwhelms Hegseth’s office: ‘It’s a free-for-all’
The departure of the Defense secretary’s top advisers has left the first-time government official without senior staff who understand Washington.
By Paul McLeary and Jack Detsch
04/24/2025 05:59 PM EDT
The circle of top advisers in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s orbit has shrunk in recent days to little more than his wife, lawyer, and two lower-level officials — leaving the Pentagon’s lead office without longtime expertise or clear direction.
Hegseth’s decision to fire three senior aides last week and reassign his chief of staff has blown a hole in his leadership team, severing essential lines of communication across the department and leading to fears about dangerous slip-ups such as weapons program delays.
The wholesale turnover just 100 days into Hegseth’s tenure has been remarkable for its speed. And it has left the first-time government official without trusted staff who understand Washington — just as he faces fallout from a series of scandals that have led to rampant speculation inside the building about how long he’ll keep his job.
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https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/24/hegseth-pentagon-leadership-vacuum-00308620
