Pentagon Secretly Hires Conservative Influencers to Amplify Hegseth

The United States Department of Defense has secretly appointed several conservative military influencers and retired officers to civilian government roles to amplify the viewpoints of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. These individuals, including retired Air Force Colonel Rob Maness and retired Army Colonels Kurt Schlichter and Thomas Anderson, were assigned to the office of Anthony Tata, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness.

Records indicate the hires were designated as special government employees or highly qualified experts and granted official government email addresses. While these individuals have used their social media platforms to defend administration policies, they have omitted their government affiliations in public commentary. Influencer Jennica Pounds was also revealed as a special government employee following a dispute with a State Department official.

These appointments are part of a broader effort by Hegseth to instill a warrior ethos and prioritize lethality within the military. This shift coincides with the firing of Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and the expected departure of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. The department also hired conservative journalist Jerry Dunleavy to review the 2021 fall of Afghanistan.

Critics, including former Congressman Adam Kinzinger, allege the Pentagon is using taxpayer funds to disseminate partisan talking points. The Department of Defense has not publicly disclosed the specific duties, salaries, or financial agreements associated with these roles.