A senior defense official confirmed on Thursday that the chief of staff to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has decided to step down. This marks the first major shift in the Pentagon’s top ranks since Donald Trump became president.
Even though he is leaving the chief of staff role, Joe Kasper is not leaving the government entirely. “Joe Kasper will continue to serve President Trump as a Special Government Employee (SGE) handling special projects at the Department of Defense,” the official stated. The official also noted, “Secretary Hegseth is thankful for his continued leadership and work to advance the America First agenda.”
More Leadership Departures
Kasper’s departure follows the exit of other high-level Pentagon officials. Last week, three senior advisors were dismissed. Their removal was reportedly linked to a leak investigation and reported disagreements with Kasper.
The three — Darin Selnick, Dan Caldwell, and Colin Carroll — released a joint statement on social media in response. They claimed they were treated unfairly and that their reputations were harmed without cause. “We still have not been told what exactly we were investigated for, if there is still an active investigation, or if there was even a real investigation of ’leaks’ to begin with,” they wrote.
Criticism from a Former Ally
John Ullyot, who previously served as Hegseth’s Pentagon press secretary, also spoke out. On Sunday, he published a sharply worded opinion piece criticizing the current leadership at the Department of Defense. He described the recent period as “a month of total chaos at the Pentagon.”
Ullyot questioned how long Hegseth could keep his job given the disorder and recent controversies. He stated, “President Donald Trump has a strong record of holding his top officials to account. Given that, it’s hard to see Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remaining in his role for much longer.”
Messaging App Controversy Adds Pressure
Amid these leadership changes, Hegseth is now under fresh scrutiny. Reports say he used the encrypted app Signal to discuss U.S. military operations in Yemen with his wife — a potential breach of protocol.
Further, it’s been revealed that strike details were also shared in another Signal chat that mistakenly included a journalist. Despite these revelations, the White House continues to stand behind Hegseth.
