Pete Hegseth faces hiring woes: At least three prospects say no to joining former Fox host at the Pentagon

The White House wants to hire a new chief of staff and top advisers for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, but it's hard to find anyone who wants the job. At least three people have already refused to take jobs under Hegseth, as per reports.

These Pentagon jobs are normally considered important and attractive, but not this time. Hegseth fired two of his senior aides in April on live TV, accusing them of leaking classified info in a Fox News interview. After that, his chief of staff was removed, and a press aide quit, saying the office was in "total chaos", as stated by an NBC News report.

Vice President JD Vance and Trump’s chief of staff Susie Wiles are helping Hegseth find new staff, but he and the White House don’t agree on who should be hired, Hegseth has rejected some of the White House’s picks, and the White House has blocked some of his choices. Some people were not picked for the job because they didn’t fully support the MAGA.

The exit of Hegseth’s Team

In April, two of Hegseth’s close friends, Dan Caldwell and Darin Selnick, were removed from the Pentagon because of a leak investigation. They, along with Colin Carroll, said the process was unfair and that they weren’t told what the allegations were. Hegseth later went on Fox News and blamed Caldwell, Selnick, and Carroll for both the leaks and the NYT story, but didn’t give any proof, as mentioned by the Fox News.

In May, the White House removed Hegseth and his lawyer, Tim Parlatore, from managing the investigation. The job was handed over to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg, which showed the White House doubted Hegseth’s fairness.

As no proof of leaks was found, officials started thinking maybe the firings were a mistake. Infighting among remaining Hegseth staff continues, and Hegseth is now mostly isolated, working with only a small group of close advisers, as stated by NBC News report.

Hegseth’s new pick rejected too

Hegseth now relies on Ricky Buria, a former military aide who hoped to become his chief of staff. But the White House said no, since Buria was seen as inexperienced and had privately criticized Trump and Vance.

The fights inside his office have delayed the “Golden Dome” missile defense project, Trump’s big national defense idea. There’s still no Pentagon budget, and Republicans in Congress are frustrated. Some officials, including Vance, are worried this report could hurt Hegseth even more. But Hegseth’s allies believe he’ll stay in the job despite everything, according to the NBC News report.

FAQs

Q1. Why is Pete Hegseth struggling to hire staff?
Because of past firings, office problems, and fights over who should be hired.

Q2. Who decides on Hegseth’s new team?
Both Hegseth and the White House want a say, but they don’t agree.