Kansas City Star (via MSN): Pentagon Staff Exodus Under Hegseth

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s senior adviser Justin Fulcher departed following allegations that Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) head Yinon Weiss reported him for security concerns to the Pentagon Force Protection Agency.

In addition to Fulcher, several high-ranking officers, such as Gen. David Allvin, departed amid controversies like “Signalgate.” Critics, including former defense secretaries, have described Hegseth’s leadership as “reckless.” His actions have been framed as “cleaning house.” The broader pattern of departures underscores ongoing scrutiny of Hegseth’s tenure.

Fulcher is the sixth top aide who has exited under Hegseth, as the secretary has faced ongoing scrutiny for his management style.



Questions regarding Fulcher’s credentials reportedly emerged after his previous telehealth startup went bankrupt.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/pentagon-staff-exodus-under-hegseth/ss-AA1L4E0j

Independent: Inside Pete Hegseth’s chaotic inner circle as report says defense secretary’s team in ‘cold war’

Questions raised over long-term viability of embattled head of Pentagon as two senior advisers said to be at loggerheads

The Pentagon is reportedly in the grip of a new Cold War, and it has nothing to do with Russia.

A rift between two senior advisers to Pete Hegseth has led to a wider schism at the department, fueling speculation about the long-term prospects of the embattled defense secretary as a member of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet, according to reporting by The Washington Post.

Numerous people familiar with the matter told the paper that claims of departmental unity are belied by continued dysfunction behind the scenes, stemming from personality conflicts, lack of experience, ongoing vacancies in important roles, and paranoia over what political crisis could erupt next.

Sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing retribution, described the most combustible relationship as that between two Hegseth aides, Eric Geressy and Ricky Buria.

They claim that Geressy, a retired soldier whom Hegseth has credited with mentoring him during their service in Iraq, has expressed ongoing concerns that Buria, until recently a military assistant to the defense secretary and now his acting chief of staff, has attempted to marginalize colleagues to enhance his own standing within the Trump administration.

Amidst the fallout from the Signalgate scandal in March, tensions between the two are said to have boiled over when Geressy found out he was excluded from meetings during a trip across the Pacific by Hegseth and blamed Buria.

Geressy also voiced concern about how many administration officials were using Signal and told staffers that the White House had a dim view of Buria, seeing him as self-important.

Click on the link below to read the entire article:

https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/hegseth-pentagon-chaos-defense-trump-b2758627.html