The Pentagon is currently grappling with internal turmoil following a series of controversial decisions made by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal on Saturday, current and former officials have voiced concerns over Hegseth's perceived lack of managerial experience.

One of the central points of contention has been Hegseth’s refusal to dismiss his acting chief of staff, Ricky Buria, despite widespread doubts about Buria's competence. This decision has reportedly frustrated officials within the White House. Central to the Pentagon's dysfunction is Buria's rising influence despite objections from the White House.

A Biden administration holdover, Buria has been dubbed "Rasputin Ricky" by critics. He previously served as a junior aide to former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and reportedly disparaged President Trump's and Vice President JD Vance's policies. Despite opposition, Trump granted Buria a rare waiver to retire early as a colonel and allowed him to set up a special Signal-enabled computer in Hegseth's office.

Signalgate and the leaks crisis

The Pentagon's leadership crisis reached a breaking point in March when Hegseth unwittingly shared classified military strike plans via the encrypted messaging app Signal. On March 15, while coordinating airstrikes on Yemen, Hegseth transmitted sensitive operational details, including aircraft launch times and target specifics, to a Signal group that mistakenly included The Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg.

According to The Atlantic, these messages referenced timing such as "1345: 'Trigger Based' F-18 1st Strike Window Starts" and "1410: More F-18s LAUNCH (2nd strike package)." The leaked content reportedly originated from an email marked "SECRET//NOFORN," underlining the potential national security risks.

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In a separate Signal chat that same day, Hegseth shared similar strike information with his wife, brother, and personal lawyer, none of whom held operational roles. This led one congressional critic to declare, "Had this very specific plan gotten in the wrong hands, Americans would be dead right now."

Systematic staff purges

In April, three senior advisers, Dan Caldwell, Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll, were escorted from the Pentagon over unproven leak allegations. All denied wrongdoing and claimed their dismissal stemmed from personal vendettas. Hegseth also dismissed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General CQ Brown, along with the judge advocate generals of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The Pentagon chief blocked the promotion of Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims, allegedly over suspicions of disloyalty, forcing him into early retirement.

The administrative fallout has been severe. Chief of staff Joe Kasper resigned, and multiple candidates have declined to replace him. Sources describe the Pentagon environment as one of "total chaos" and a "full-blown meltdown."

Failed leak investigations

Hegseth initiated polygraph testing of Pentagon personnel in March as part of a leak investigation. However, the White House eventually halted this effort following complaints. While the initial investigation promised a "thorough" inquiry into unauthorized disclosures, it produced no clear evidence.

Investigators are now probing whether any personnel were ordered to delete Signal messages, which could violate federal records laws. Watchdog group American Oversight has launched a lawsuit to preserve these encrypted communications.

White House response

Despite rising congressional pressure, President Trump has publicly defended Hegseth, telling advisors, "the boss loves him." However, multiple reports suggest the White House has begun exploring possible replacements. Trump is reportedly concerned about Hegseth's "messy management style."

Bipartisan criticism is growing. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker labeled the leaked details as "of such a sensitive nature" that they warranted classified status. Senator Tammy Duckworth called Hegseth "the most unqualified Secretary of Defense in history." Representative Don Bacon, a retired Air Force general, voiced alarm over the breaches.

National security concerns

The internal dysfunction has affected key military operations. The abrupt pause in weapons shipments to Ukraine has reportedly caught both allies and the National Security Council off guard. Without a functioning chief of staff, congressional communications and basic administrative decisions have stalled.

The Pentagon's ability to focus on core national security missions has eroded. Critics argue the crisis reflects a shift from professional competence to political loyalty as the primary driver of leadership decisions.