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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Amidst mounting turmoil at the Pentagon, including recent leaks regarding airstrikes in Yemen and the abrupt dismissals of high-ranking personnel, an advisor to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has publicly criticized his former superior. In an opinion piece, the aide suggested President Donald Trump may soon remove Hegseth from his position.
Former Spokesman Alleges ‘Chaos’ at Defense Department
John Ullyot, previously a leading spokesperson for the Defense Department until his departure last week, penned an op-ed published in Politico detailing what he described as significant disarray within the Pentagon. “The past month has been marked by utter disorder at the Pentagon,” Ullyot stated. “From breaches of confidential operational strategies to widespread firings, this state of dysfunction has become a considerable distraction for the President – who deserves superior performance from his senior leadership team.”
Ullyot continued, “President Trump has consistently demonstrated a commitment to holding appointees accountable. Considering this track record, it appears improbable that Secretary Hegseth will remain in office for an extended duration.”
Defense Department Silent on Criticism
As of yet, the Defense Department has not issued a response to requests for comment regarding the published criticisms.
Purge of Pentagon Officials Detailed
Ullyot, a veteran of the initial Trump administration, further highlighted the recent terminations of several key Pentagon officials. He noted that Joe Kasper, Hegseth’s chief of staff, was ousted from his role on Friday. This dismissal followed the departures of other senior aides linked to Hegseth, including Deputy Chief of Staff Darin Selnick, Senior Advisor Dan Caldwell, and Colin Carroll, chief of staff to the Deputy Secretary of Defense.
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In a statement released on Saturday, Selnick, Caldwell, and Carroll addressed their terminations: “We are deeply disappointed by the manner in which our service at the Department of Defense was concluded. Unnamed individuals within the Pentagon have engaged in character assassination, launching baseless attacks against us as we depart.”
Accusations of Smear Campaign
Ullyot asserted that “In the aftermath of these dismissals, Defense Department figures aligned with Hegseth attempted to discredit the outgoing aides through anonymous briefings to journalists. They falsely claimed the aides were terminated for leaking classified information as part of an investigation initiated earlier in the month. However,” Ullyot clarified, “these allegations are entirely untrue.”
Ullyot Distances Himself from Purge, Cites Hegseth ‘Errors’
Ullyot clarified that he was not implicated in the recent personnel changes and that his departure from the Pentagon was voluntary after declining a position offered by Hegseth.
Despite describing himself as a loyal supporter of Hegseth, Ullyot pointed to a series of self-inflicted missteps by his former superior.
“Even ardent supporters of the Secretary, myself included, must concede that the past month has represented a complete collapse at the Pentagon – and this situation is evolving into a significant issue for the current administration,” he concluded.
Timing of Op-Ed Coincides with Yemen Report
The publication of this critical op-ed occurred shortly after a report in The New York Times alleged that Hegseth utilized his personal mobile phone to transmit details concerning military operations in Yemen via a Signal group chat. Reportedly, this group included his wife, brother, and personal attorney. NBC News independently corroborated these details through two sources with direct knowledge of the situation.