The intense conflicts dividing Pete Hegseth's Pentagon

When President Donald Trump appointed Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, the incoming officials realized the need to support the inexperienced Fox News host with capable staff to manage the vast Pentagon bureaucracy. They anticipated Hegseth would serve as the public face, while experienced personnel would maintain operational stability.

However, the reality turned out to be quite the opposite. Hegseth surrounded himself with advisers who soon transformed into fierce competitors for power. This internal conflict has escalated into a series of revenge schemes, unexpected firings, allegations of leaks, and damaging headlines that have engulfed the Pentagon, distracting from Trump’s agenda and putting Hegseth's position at risk.

Typically, feuds within administrations stem from ideological or factional disagreements, such as divisions between traditional conservatives and "America First" advocates. In this instance, however, the discord seems to stem solely from personal conflicts, according to interviews with nine current and former Defense Department officials and others close to the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to address the sensitive political matter. Hegseth's inner circle has reportedly been engaged in self-serving power struggles, leading to a climate of distrust and gamesmanship that has shaken the Defense Department.

The severity of this previously unreported feud sheds light on the chaos that has recently overshadowed the Pentagon and reinforces critics' concerns regarding Hegseth’s management capabilities in leading such a large organization.

“There’s just a lot of tension, there’s a lot of bad blood,” said a source familiar with the conflict. “And there’s a lot of people trying to assert dominance in an area where it’s very hard to do without cutting somebody else."

The infighting became so intense that Hegseth suspected the recent leaks to the media were a coordinated effort by his senior staff to undermine their rivals and cast a negative light on both the secretary and the Defense Department, according to an associate.

Central to the conflict was Joe Kasper, Hegseth’s leaving chief of staff, who according to insiders fostered a toxic work environment and played a key role in the dismissal of three top Pentagon officials last week. Sources noted these firings were part of a strategy to consolidate power. Kasper has denied any wrongdoing or involvement in the dismissals.

On the opposing side were the fired officials, whom Hegseth considered trusted allies. Senior adviser Dan Caldwell, deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll, chief of staff to the deputy Defense secretary, were regarded as Hegseth’s closest advisers and have maintained their innocence.

“We had people who had personal vendettas against us,” Caldwell stated during an interview with Tucker Carlson on Monday night. “They weaponized the investigation against us.”

Kasper defended his actions, asserting he was simply following orders from Hegseth to investigate the recent leaks.

The Pentagon has denied any personal conflicts but has refrained from further comment.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed the fired officials had leaked information to the media and emphasized that there was a “smear campaign” directed at Hegseth’s reputation within the Defense Department.

“It’s been clear since day one of this administration that we are not going to tolerate individuals who leaked to the mainstream media particularly when it comes to sensitive information,” she stated during a Tuesday press briefing.

Caldwell, Selnick, and Carroll declined to comment.

Hegseth spoke highly of Kasper, calling him a “great American” and expressing his support for him. “He’s certainly not fired,” he said on Fox & Friends. “You make changes over time.”

This outbreak of infighting at the Defense Department—an organization typically characterized by a commitment to decorum and nonpartisanship—contributes to a wave of negative media coverage for the Pentagon chief. Hegseth currently faces backlash for improperly sharing sensitive information about military operations in Yemen with national security officials in a Signal chat that inadvertently included a journalist, as well as reportedly sending such details to his family and other notable missteps.

“There is a complete meltdown in the building, and this is really reflecting on the secretary’s leadership,” noted a source. “Pete Hegseth has surrounded himself with some people who don’t have his interests at heart.”

Concerns about Kasper’s management of the Pentagon arose almost immediately.

A longtime aide to indicted Rep. Duncan Hunter, Kasper previously oversaw his office during a series of scandals, including allegations of heavy drinking and misconduct. Hunter was ultimately sentenced to 11 months in prison for misusing taxpayer funds.

Kasper later worked at the Department of Homeland Security, the Navy, and the Air Force during the first Trump administration, in addition to serving as a lobbyist. Critics claim he quickly encountered difficulties in his new Pentagon role.

Sources indicate he often arrived late to meetings and earned a reputation for neglecting important responsibilities with little follow-up. Another individual familiar with his management style described him as lacking the focus and organizational skills necessary for the job.

While some characterized him as fun and charming, several others reported that he frequently belittled officials during meetings and insultingly referred to military personnel by lower ranks.

In one instance, reportedly during a high-level meeting, Kasper graphically described his bowel movements, surprising attendees. “Can I just tell everyone around this table that I just took an enormous shit right before coming in here?” he reportedly commented. Those present were taken aback, thinking, “This is a business meeting.”

Kasper later claimed the narrative had been misconstrued, explaining that he was actually jesting about the team being “in major shit-con,” a humorous expression implying trouble.

In March, Selnick was appointed as deputy chief of staff to address perceived shortcomings in Kasper's leadership. Those familiar with the circumstances believed Selnick, a staunch MAGA supporter with previous ties to Hegseth, could effectively manage the front office if problems with Kasper arose.

Hegseth also began relying more on Caldwell, who also shared a history with him at the nonprofit organization Concerned Veterans for America and was known for his direct, results-oriented approach.

The reorganization led to rising tensions between Kasper and his colleagues, as insiders noted.

“Kasper did not like that those guys had the secretary’s ear,” said one source. “He did not like that they had walk-in and hanging-out privileges in the office. He wanted them out. It was a knife fight.”

Kasper denied any discord with the other senior advisers.

Tensions intensified last month amidst a series of leaks that left everyone at the Pentagon, particularly Hegseth, feeling anxious. Critics of Kasper allege he exploited the turmoil to settle personal vendettas against other advisers, advocating for an investigation into the leaks while attributing blame to them.

“When Dan Caldwell and Darin Selnick took on many of his responsibilities at Hegseth’s direction, a rift deepened between Joe and them,” recounted one insider. “After several weeks, Joe began trying to move them out apparently by bad-mouthing them to the secretary.”

Ultimately, Hegseth began feeling increasingly isolated and paranoid, according to two acquaintances. Last week, the situation culminated in him firing several senior staff members, believing they were responsible for the leaks.

As the dust settled, Kasper emerged from the struggle with a diminished standing. Reports indicated he would be stepping down from his top position for a new role.

Frederick R Cook for TROIB News