Additional Coverage:
Pentagon Under Fire: High-Ranking Officials Accuse Pete Hegseth of “Grandstanding” Amidst Departmental Chaos
Washington D.C. – Less than nine months into his tenure, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing sharp criticism from within the Pentagon, with a high-ranking officer and two veteran civilian military officials labeling him a “lightweight and grandstander.” These anonymous sources, speaking to the Daily Mail, claim Hegseth has “lost the respect of the department’s top brass” and plunged the Pentagon into a state of disarray.
The insiders describe a chaotic environment marked by widespread uncertainty regarding Hegseth’s policies, particularly concerning the Caribbean, and an unprecedented deployment of National Guard troops to U.S. cities. “There are work horses and show horses, and Pete’s a show pony, an absolute joke who has no business in that job,” one officer stated emphatically.
Further criticisms include Hegseth’s alleged failure to address low morale amidst DOGE cutbacks and an extended government shutdown. “What we have here is an empty suit running this department into the ground,” commented a civilian with nearly three decades of Pentagon experience, while another employee described the situation as “soul sucking to witness.”
Adding to the internal strife, sources indicate Hegseth has become “obsessed” with identifying and silencing “leakers,” anyone expressing criticism, or those speaking with journalists. This comes on the heels of a mass exodus of reporters from the Pentagon on October 15th, who collectively rejected new government-imposed restrictions on their work.
Dozens of journalists voluntarily surrendered their access badges and vacated the Pentagon rather than comply with new rules that would leave them vulnerable to expulsion for reporting on any information, classified or otherwise, not explicitly approved for release by Hegseth. News outlets were nearly unanimous in their rejection of these new regulations.
As the 4 p.m. deadline approached, Pentagon hallways were reportedly cluttered with cardboard boxes as journalists hastily moved documents, chairs, a photocopier, books, and vintage photographs from their offices to the parking garage. Just after the deadline, approximately 40 to 50 media members departed as a unified group.
“It’s sad, but I’m also really proud of the press corps that we stuck together,” remarked Nancy Youssef, an Atlantic reporter who has maintained a Pentagon desk since 2007.
While the practical consequences of these new regulations remain unclear, news outlets have pledged to continue comprehensive military coverage. However, images of journalists protesting these obstacles are unlikely to sway supporters of President Donald Trump, many of whom harbor resentment towards the press and endorse efforts to restrict their work. Over the past year, Trump has been engaged in legal disputes with several major news organizations, including The New York Times, CBS News, ABC News, the Wall Street Journal, and The Associated Press.