The Pentagon, long considered one of the most structured and tightly controlled institutions in the United States government, now finds itself at the center of an escalating leadership crisis that has spread like a storm through its upper ranks.
Behind the closed doors of the nation’s military command, whispers of dysfunction, political infighting, and retaliatory firings have turned into full-throated public accusations, laying bare a power structure unraveling at alarming speed.
In an extraordinary move that drew national attention over the weekend, former top Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot published a scathing opinion piece outlining what he described as “total chaos” under the leadership of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Ullyot, who until recently served as the acting assistant to the secretary for public affairs, resigned last week after what he described as “weeks of dysfunction” and “a baffling purge of senior leadership.”
"It’s been a month of total chaos at the Pentagon," Ullyot wrote. "From leaks of sensitive operational plans to mass firings, the dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president — who deserves better from his senior leadership."
The article, published Sunday, comes after a week in which three top officials — Dan Caldwell, Colin Carroll, and Darin Selnick — were suspended and then dismissed from their positions. Their ousting, reportedly linked to an ongoing investigation into leaked classified information, has only intensified the scrutiny surrounding Secretary Hegseth’s management of the Department of Defense.
The three former officials released a joint statement shortly after their dismissals, defending their service and casting doubt on the reasons given for their sudden removal.
"We are incredibly disappointed by the manner in which our service at the Department of Defense ended," the statement read. "We understand the importance of information security and worked every day to protect it. Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out the door."
Ullyot echoed that concern in his op-ed, alleging that anonymous sources within the Pentagon, acting on behalf of Hegseth, had attempted to discredit the dismissed aides through coordinated media leaks.
"Defense Department officials working for Hegseth tried to smear the aides anonymously to reporters, claiming they were fired for leaking sensitive information," Ullyot wrote. "These aides were not just employees — they were among the most trusted and experienced hands in the building."
He continued, "Hegseth is now presiding over a strange and baffling purge that will leave him without his two closest advisers of over a decade — Caldwell and Selnick — and without chiefs of staff for him and his deputy. More firings may be coming, according to rumors in the building."
Such public discord from within the upper echelons of the Pentagon is rare, and it marks a stunning reversal for Hegseth, who was once praised by allies for his bold leadership style and his promises to reform a bureaucracy seen by many conservatives as bloated and slow-moving.
Hegseth, a former Army officer and television commentator, was appointed defense secretary by President Trump late last year amid contentious Senate hearings. His nomination faced fierce opposition from Democrats and unease among some Republicans, largely due to his polarizing media presence and limited experience in defense policy.
But Hegseth managed to win confirmation after a concerted push from conservative veterans' groups and public endorsements from longtime allies, including Ullyot himself.
"In December, when his Senate confirmation was in jeopardy, I wrote an opinion piece arguing strongly that he was the best man to shake things up at a Pentagon in need of serious reform," Ullyot recalled.
Now, less than five months later, that support has evaporated.
"In short, the building is in disarray under Hegseth’s leadership," Ullyot wrote. "Fortunately, I was not a victim of this purge of his senior leadership. But what I witnessed in recent weeks was deeply troubling — not just for the Department of Defense, but for national security."
The underlying cause of the disarray appears to be a bitter internal struggle over how information has been handled within the building. The leak of sensitive operational plans earlier this month triggered an internal investigation ordered by Secretary Hegseth himself.
That investigation quickly turned inward, focusing not on foreign adversaries or outside actors, but on Hegseth’s own senior staff.
Critics argue that the firings were political in nature — an effort by Hegseth to consolidate control and silence dissenting voices inside the Pentagon. Others suggest that the situation has spiraled out of his control entirely, and that the investigation has been used as cover for a broader purge of individuals seen as insufficiently loyal to the secretary.
"This is a textbook example of leadership breakdown," said a former senior Pentagon official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "When top aides with decades of experience are shown the door in a matter of days, and the only explanation is anonymous leaks and rumors, it’s a sign that something has gone deeply wrong."
The White House has so far remained largely silent on the matter, but sources inside the administration say the president is increasingly frustrated with the reports coming out of the Pentagon.
"President Donald Trump has a strong record of holding his top officials to account," Ullyot wrote. "Given that, it’s hard to see Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remaining in his role for much longer."
For now, Hegseth remains in his post, but his hold on the position appears increasingly tenuous. The Senate Armed Services Committee is reportedly preparing to request a closed-door briefing on the internal investigation and the circumstances surrounding the firings.
Lawmakers from both parties have expressed concern about the stability of the department at a time when U.S. forces remain engaged in multiple global theaters.
"There’s too much at stake for this kind of instability at the top of our defense apparatus," said Senator Monica Fields, a moderate Republican from Pennsylvania. "The American people deserve a Pentagon that functions professionally and reliably, regardless of who’s in charge."
Meanwhile, inside the Pentagon, morale has reportedly plummeted. One mid-level officer described the atmosphere as “paranoid” and “completely uncertain.” Staffers are said to be wary of expressing any opinions that could be interpreted as criticism or disloyalty, fearing they too may be swept up in the next wave of dismissals.
"Nobody knows who’s next," the officer said. "People are watching their backs more than they’re doing their jobs."
Outside observers worry that the chaos could have long-term consequences for the Department of Defense’s credibility and performance. At a time when global tensions remain high and adversaries like China and Russia continue to test U.S. resolve, a distracted and disorganized Pentagon could send the wrong message abroad.
"What message does it send to our allies — or our enemies — when the top leadership of the world’s most powerful military is caught in an internal meltdown?" asked national security analyst Brianna Kim. "This kind of disarray isn’t just embarrassing. It’s dangerous."
Whether or not President Trump decides to remove Hegseth remains to be seen. The president has a well-known pattern of sticking with controversial appointees during periods of public criticism — until he doesn’t.
If Trump concludes that the crisis is becoming a political liability, Hegseth could find himself the latest in a long line of officials dismissed by tweet.
Until then, the Department of Defense remains in uncertain hands, led by a secretary now facing open revolt from within his own ranks. The firings, the leaks, the anonymous attacks, the silence from the White House — all of it adds up to a picture of a leadership team in free fall.
For the thousands of men and women serving under the Pentagon’s banner — and for the millions of Americans who rely on its strength and stability — the hope is that order can be restored before the damage becomes irreversible.
