- Fifteen current and former Pentagon officials detail a pervasive culture of distrust, paranoia, and secrecy under Pete Hegseth's leadership, CNN said in a new report.
- Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has reportedly fired over two dozen senior officers, removed a Navy secretary, and personally intervened in promotions across all military branches.
- Officials describe a work environment where staff must sign nondisclosure agreements and undergo polygraph tests, with every decision calculated to maintain Hegseth's position.
- The abrupt firing of Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, who learned of his dismissal via a phone call and then a public tweet, highlights the high turnover and lack of transparency.
- Lawmakers have raised concerns over the instability, while Hegseth attributes the changes to a necessary shift in the department's culture, and a spokesman dismisses the claims as politically motivated.
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