Pete Hegseth’s Chief of Staff, Joe Kasper, Is Out at the Pentagon

In yet another significant shake-up at the Pentagon, Joe Kasper, Chief of Staff to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has resigned from his position. His departure comes on the heels of a tumultuous period marked by internal conflicts, leak investigations, and questions surrounding the leadership within the Department of Defense.​

A Voluntary Departure Amidst Controversy

Kasper’s resignation was officially described as a voluntary move. He is set to transition into a part-time role as a special government employee focusing on science, technology, and industry. This designation allows him to work up to 130 days within a 365-day period, similar to roles held by other high-profile figures in the administration .​

However, his exit coincides with a period of significant unrest within the Pentagon. Reports indicate that Kasper’s departure follows weeks of friction with other senior advisers and questions about the management of the department under Secretary Hegseth.

Internal Power Struggles and Leak Investigations

​The Pentagon has turned into a political meat grinder lately, and the latest casualty is Joe Kasper. His sudden departure was more than another in a series of DC shuffles—it was the byproduct of a toxic stew of power struggles, a bit of paranoia, and a leak probe that blew the lid off a building already known for its shadows and secrets.

At the center of this meltdown was Hegseth’s inner circle, a band of political appointees now reduced to ashes after weeks of infighting. Kasper, who had grown increasingly frustrated with colleagues having direct access to Hegseth, reportedly saw three of his fellow senior aides—Dan Caldwell, Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll—as threats. Not just colleagues with differing ideas, but adversaries in what Pentagon insiders described as a “knife fight.” This wasn’t a disagreement over policy; it was a full-contact power struggle in the front office of the world’s most powerful military.

Kasper believed the trio was out to get him fired. In turn, they accused him of trying to consolidate power and marginalize anyone who didn’t fall in line. Reportedly, the tension boiled over into shouting matches and turf wars, the kind of thing that usually stays behind closed doors. Not this time.

As the internal war raged, Kasper kicked off a sweeping leak investigation in late March. He drafted a memo calling for polygraph tests and a thorough probe into who was spilling secrets. These weren’t your run-of-the-mill leaks either. We’re talking about operational plans for the Panama Canal, carrier group movements in the Red Sea, Elon Musk’s visit to the Pentagon, and even hush-hush intelligence operations related to Ukraine. Real cloak-and-dagger stuff with real-world national security implications.

The result? Caldwell, Selnick, and Carroll were frog-marched out of the building, placed on administrative leave, and eventually fired. What’s shocking is the manner in which it was done. It looks very much like just a swift boot out the door. One of them even lawyered up, and you can’t blame him.

Pentagon officials have been adamant that the firings had nothing to do with foreign policy disagreements. According to the official line, this was all about leaks. But no one’s buying that 100%. This has all the signs of a factional purge disguised as a security crackdown.

And now Kasper himself is out, though the brass insists it was voluntary. His new assignment in a vague “science and technology” role is a bureaucratic exile if there ever was one. Hegseth, for his part, defended Kasper, calling him a “great American” and saying he wasn’t fired. But behind closed doors, the walls are closing in. Hegseth’s operation is running on fumes, with most of his senior staff either canned or heading for the exits. His wife and a couple of junior aides are all that remain of what used to be a fully staffed office. 

Kasper was not forced out. He is moving to a different role, most likely as a special government employee.pic.twitter.com/KIDiKYZpUJ

— Golden Advice 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲 (@RichardStiller4) April 24, 2025

Allegations of Unprofessional Conduct

If the internal backstabbing and power plays weren’t enough to bring Joe Kasper down, the string of complaints about his conduct sure didn’t help. According to several reports, including from The Daily Beast, Kasper brought a different kind of chaos to the Pentagon—one that had nothing to do with policy and everything to do with how he carried himself behind closed doors.

Sources say Kasper derailed a meeting with a veterans’ group by launching into a story about a trip to a strip club. Yes, you read that right. While veterans and staff gathered to discuss serious issues, Kasper decided it was a good time to relive his night out like he was back in a frat house, not seated in the highest levels of the U.S. military establishment. I won’t even mention reports of him discussing his bodily functions in public.

His critics won’t seem to stop the beatings. They described him as consistently late, disorganized, and quick to chew out subordinates in front of others. One of the more telling anecdotes? He frequently referred to uniformed military officials by a lower rank than they held—a subtle but pointed insult in military circles. If you’re looking to piss off a high ranking officer, that’ll do it.

Kasper has tried to swat these accusations away, claiming they were exaggerated or taken out of context. Maybe so. But multiple people who were in the room when these moments happened have confirmed the incidents. In a place like the Pentagon, where professionalism and decorum are not just expected but required, this kind of behavior was gasoline on an already smoldering fire.

All of it added up—not just to a damaged reputation, but to real consequences. The stories and conduct complaints became another pillar in the growing instability within Secretary Hegseth’s inner circle. At the end of the day, Kasper wasn’t just brought down by the knife fight in the front office. He seemingly helped dig his own grave with a mix of bad judgment, crude behavior, and a disregard for the standards expected of someone in his role.

Hegseth’s Response and Ongoing Challenges

Despite the turmoil, Secretary Hegseth publicly praised Kasper, repeating that he was “not fired”. Hegseth’s own leadership has come under increased scrutiny, especially following reports that he shared sensitive military information via the messaging app Signal. These actions have prompted an internal Pentagon investigation and raised concerns about national security protocols.​

The rapid turnover of staff and ongoing controversies have left the new Secretary reliant on a minimal circle of advisers, including his wife, personal lawyer, and two low-level aides. This consolidation of power has disrupted internal communication and slowed decision-making processes within the Pentagon.​

Looking Ahead

Despite the personnel shake-ups and ongoing scrutiny, SECDEF Hegseth appears committed to recalibrating the Department of Defense with a renewed focus on mission readiness. His efforts have emphasized building stronger, more lethal warfighters and stripping away bureaucratic bloat that hinders effectiveness. While his leadership style may ruffle feathers, there’s evidence that he’s steering the Pentagon toward a more streamlined and combat-focused posture. In the long run, these reforms could bolster the United States’ overall defense capabilities at a time when global threats are only growing.