Washington:
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s chief of staff, Joe Kasper, is stepping down from his position, as confirmed by a senior defense official on Thursday. Kasper will transition to a role as a Special Government Employee (SGE) handling special projects at the Department of Defense under President Trump’s administration. Secretary Hegseth expressed gratitude for Kasper’s leadership and dedication to advancing the America First agenda.
This development follows a series of notable departures from key Pentagon roles, including the recent removal of three officials amid an investigation into leaks, reportedly involving clashes with Kasper. Former senior advisors Darin Selnick, Dan Caldwell, and Colin Carroll responded to the situation, asserting that they were unfairly targeted without clear information on the investigation or its findings.
In a separate incident, Hegseth’s former Pentagon press secretary, John Ullyot, criticized the Defense Secretary in an opinion piece, highlighting a period of turmoil within the Pentagon. The ongoing controversies have raised questions about Hegseth’s continued tenure in his position.
Amidst these challenges, Hegseth faces scrutiny over his alleged use of the messaging app Signal to discuss sensitive military matters with unauthorized individuals, including his wife. Despite these issues, the White House has maintained its support for Hegseth, despite previous incidents involving leaked information.
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