Joe Kasper, chief of staff to former U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, www.defense.gov is out in a surprising shake-up. He very recently confirmed to Politico that he’ll return to a life of government relations and consulting. Kasper will continue to have some ties to the Pentagon as a special government employee. His exit takes place under a cloud of very concerning allegations about his job performance and harassment during his tenure.
Kasper’s exit follows reports of his involvement in the dismissal of three senior Pentagon officials: Dan Caldwell, Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll. Witnesses allege that he did so to help him stage a coup inside the department. This obfuscation led many staff to distrust his leadership style from the start.
According to anonymous insiders, Kasper had difficulty managing time, disorganization and focus. One insider remarked, “He lacked the focus and organizational skills needed to get things done.” For example, he would regularly come to meetings an hour late. There are additional allegations of unprofessional conduct, as in haranguing officials and touching his genitals at the start of high-level meetings.
Prior to serving as chief of staff, Kasper served in a number of positions in the federal government. His prior background includes the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Navy, and the Air Force under the first Trump administration. He possesses insider experience from his time as a lobbyist. That background, many observers feel, had an outsized impact on his lethal approach to his Pentagon perch.
Secretary Hegseth had promised us all that instead Kasper would move to “a different, slightly different role” within the department. His abrupt resignation last week came as a surprise to many. Kasper’s departure comes at this inflection point with a unique opportunity. New allegations Secretary Hegseth allegedly had an open internet connection set up in his Pentagon office, raising the specter of other management and security routines within the department.
Despite the controversies surrounding his leadership, an official stated, “Secretary Hegseth is thankful for [Kasper’s] continued leadership and work to advance the America First agenda.” What’s less clear is how Kasper’s unexpected exit will affect day-to-day operations in the Pentagon.