Charles Esther
President Donald Trump may be preparing to part ways with one of his most controversial Cabinet members following a turbulent month at the Pentagon.
That’s according to John Ullyot, the former chief spokesperson for the Defense Department, who says Pete Hegseth’s days as Secretary of Defense are likely numbered.
‘Even Supporters Are Losing Patience’
In an opinion piece published by Politico on Sunday, Ullyot—who only recently stepped down from his post—warned that Hegseth’s leadership has resulted in disarray at the Pentagon.
He acknowledged his continued personal support for Hegseth, whom he called a friend, but noted that even strong allies can’t ignore the chaos that has gripped the department.
“Yet even strong backers of the secretary like me must admit: The last month has been a full-blown meltdown at the Pentagon — and it’s becoming a real problem for the administration,” Ullyot wrote.
A Tumultuous Month for the Pentagon
Ullyot’s criticisms come after what he describes as a “Month from Hell,” starting with Signalgate.
The scandal erupted after The Atlantic reported that the publication’s chief editor was accidentally added to a Signal group chat discussing sensitive military operations.
Hegseth initially brushed it off, telling reporters, “Nobody was texting war plans,” a response Ullyot condemned as a failure in crisis management.
Things quickly spiraled from there.
Reports emerged that Hegseth had shared sensitive military strike details in Signal chats that included his wife, Jennifer Rauchet, and brother.
Other outlets uncovered that Hegseth brought his wife to meetings with foreign officials and planned to brief Elon Musk on classified matters.
Three of his top aides were dismissed amid a leak investigation, and his chief of staff resigned.
Leadership in Question
Ullyot, who once led efforts to revamp media access at the Pentagon by favouring right-wing outlets, says the Department has lost focus.
“Unfortunately, after a terrible month, the Pentagon focus is no longer on warfighting, but on endless drama,” he lamented.
He added that the Defence Department’s credibility had taken a hit, and warned that the dysfunction might force Trump’s hand.
Calls for Accountability
The opinion piece concluded with Ullyot calling on Trump to take decisive action, noting that he had done so with other top Cabinet officials in the past, including Rex Tillerson, Jim Mattis, and Mark Esper.
“In short, the building is in disarray under Hegseth’s leadership,” Ullyot wrote.
“The president deserves better than the current mishegoss at the Pentagon,” he added, referencing the Yiddish term for senseless chaos.
“Many in the secretary’s own inner circle will applaud quietly if Trump chooses to do the same in short order at the top of the Defense Department.”
Official Responses Remain Quiet
Neither Ullyot nor the White House responded to requests for comment.
The Pentagon, meanwhile, dismissed the concerns raised in Ullyot’s op-ed.
Sean Parnell, the department’s current spokesperson, called The New York Times report on Hegseth’s Signal messages “garbage,” insisting that no classified information was shared.
Still, with pressure mounting and more revelations possibly on the way, Hegseth’s future as defense secretary remains uncertain.
