Pete Hegseth, the new undersecretary at the Pentagon, faces daunting tasks. As he fights personal demons and endures a criminal leak investigation that has overshadowed his short tenure, he similarly finds himself on the ropes. His inner circle has dramatically narrowed, now comprising only three individuals: Ricky Buria, Tim Parlatore, and Sean Parnell. This centralization of authority arrives at a time of increased pressure due to accusations of classified information impropriety.
Shortly after stepping into his position Hegseth ordered an investigation into nine different leaks that have appeared in the Pentagon. One of the most damaging breaches was the unauthorized release of detailed military planning for strikes. These plans focused on defeating the Houthis in Yemen. A second private Signal group chat exposed this information. Having Hegseth’s wife involved in that chat raised concerns over the security of classified discussions and decision-making.
Hegseth’s arrival at the Pentagon came with less experience than any of his predecessors. He did just that after having wowed then-candidate Donald Trump during the campaign. Following that interview, Trump suggested he could lead either the Pentagon or the Department of Veterans Affairs, ultimately paving the way for Hegseth’s current position.
During his early months, we saw Hegseth very successfully exploit that role. As evidenced by a deep commitment to his duties, according to the four Pentagon officials who worked with him day in and day out. Judged by the first six weeks of his tenure, he did extremely well. Now, this notable success has unfortunately been overshadowed. The growing animosities within the organization exploded following a major leak about Panama Canal related material.
The political climate in Hegseth’s office has not improved. Furious confrontations ensued between Chief of Staff Joe Kasper and three aides, a scandal which ultimately resulted in their firing. This division has cultivated a factionalization. On one side is Kasper’s administration; on the other is a growing movement that has coalesced around Kasper’s ousted aides, who say his autocratic management approach is counterproductive.
As tensions between him and his boss increased, so did Hegseth’s purported distrust of career employees in the Pentagon. The continuing streams of leaks have made it impossible for him to create the kind of stable working environment that this demands. The pressures associated with managing an agency with an $800 billion budget and over two million troops have begun to weigh heavily on him.
In light of these challenges, Hegseth has outlined ambitious plans for U.S. military involvement in reclaiming the Panama Canal, including the potential deployment of troops to the area. Yet, as the internal investigation into the mishandling of classified information continues to grow, these proposals have come under fire.
Colin Carroll, one of the aides fired over these controversies, had an especially brutal interview. The Air Force Office of Special Investigations would interview him about the leaks. The fallout from these events threatens to reopen questions about Hegseth’s leadership capabilities and his ability to manage the complexities of the Pentagon’s operations.
“The way to get people fired in this place is to get bad headlines on them.” – Two officials
As Hegseth tries to sail through stormy seas. For starters, he deals with the impact of the leaks and the chaotic, soap-opera like mood on his team. The ongoing investigation could have lasting implications for his leadership and the overall effectiveness of operations at the Department of Defense.