WASHINGTON — The dismissal of three key Pentagon aides in current days adopted a bureaucratic turf struggle fueled by ego and persona clashes — somewhat than sweeping philosophical variations as some instructed, The Submit has realized.
Pentagon senior adviser Dan Caldwell, former deputy chief of workers Darin Selnick and Colin Carroll, former chief of workers to the deputy secretary of protection, have been every escorted out of the constructing in a sequence of firings final week that occurred on account of an investigation into leaks from officers.
Caldwell denied in an interview with Tucker Carlson Monday that he’d leaked info, and claimed he was focused for his coverage views. However a supply with direct information of the dynamics advised The Submit on Tuesday that the entire ordeal boiled all the way down to workplace politics.
The firings have been the consequence of a “turf struggle” involving Joe Kasper, the now-former chief of workers to Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth, in response to this supply, who stated Kasper “felt threatened that an increasing number of of his portfolio … was being given to” Selnick and Caldwell.
In response, Kasper ordered the leak investigation that finally led to the trio’s terminations, the particular person stated.
A few of Kasper’s nominal obligations that Selnick and Caldwell had been overseeing included “suggestions on appointments, choices on high-level official visits and official journey planning — a lot of what was rising as a precedence for that given week,” in response to the supply.
Caldwell had additionally been given accountability over Center East and Ukraine coverage in Hegseth’s workplace, whereas Selnick was in control of personnel issues, reminiscent of canceling “DEI and identification politics” on the Pentagon, the supply stated.
“It was just because [Kasper] wasn’t an efficient supervisor and balls have been being dropped, choices weren’t made, and so on.,” the particular person claimed, including of Kasper. “He’s a pleasant man however a poor supervisor.
Caldwell, Selnick and Carroll have been formally terminated on Friday — the identical day Kasper left his position as chief of workers for a brand new one “as a Particular Authorities Worker (SGE) dealing with particular tasks” on the Pentagon, a senior protection official advised The Submit on Monday.
The Pentagon and White Home have persistently said that every one three now-former workers have been requested to go away as a result of they have been talking to media retailers about inside discussions.
“They have been Pentagon workers who leaked in opposition to their boss to information companies on this room,” White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated Tuesday.
“It’s been clear since day one from this administration that we’re not going to tolerate people who leaked to the mainstream media, notably on the subject of delicate info.”
A day earlier, Leavitt asserted that the ex-employees have been actively working in opposition to President Trump and Hegseth.
“That is what occurs when all the Pentagon is working in opposition to you and dealing in opposition to the monumental change you are attempting to implement.
Caldwell insisted to Carlson Monday {that a} darker dynamic was at work, saying: “We have been threatening quite a lot of established pursuits in our personal separate methods, and we had individuals who had private vendettas in opposition to us, sure, and I feel they weaponized the investigation in opposition to us.”
Nonetheless, two separate protection officers advised The Submit on Tuesday that the firings had nothing to do with political variations, with one saying: “There aren’t any ideological disputes that led to any of the firings.”
A former Trump official additionally solid doubt on Caldwell’s accusation, noting all three fired officers share related coverage views to Hegseth.
Nonetheless, Carlson — a former Fox Information colleague of Hegseth — instructed Caldwell had been fired for feedback he had made within the media opposing navy motion in opposition to Iran.
“By giving on the file interviews earlier than you went in, describing your overseas coverage views … there have been individuals knew that you simply weren’t totally on board with the regime change program,” Carlson stated.
Protection sources near the administration say discussions stay ongoing about doable strikes on Iran — more likely to be carried out by Israel with out US forces — however emphasised that Trump is advocating first for diplomacy.
A Pentagon spokesperson didn’t reply to a request for remark.
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