Pentagon employees were ousted after ‘turf war’ in Hegseth’s office: source

WASHINGTON — The dismissal of 3 key Pentagon aides successful caller days followed a bureaucratic turf warfare fueled by ego and characteristic clashes — alternatively than sweeping philosophical differences arsenic immoderate suggested, The Post has learned.

Pentagon elder advisor Dan Caldwell, erstwhile lawman main of unit Darin Selnick and Colin Carroll, erstwhile main of unit to nan lawman caput of defense, were each escorted retired of nan building successful a bid of firings past week that occurred arsenic a consequence of an investigation into leaks from officials.

Caldwell denied successful an question and reply pinch Tucker Carlson Monday that he’d leaked information, and claimed he was targeted for his argumentation views. But a root pinch nonstop knowledge of nan dynamics told The Post connected Tuesday that nan full ordeal boiled down to agency politics.

The firings were nan consequence of a “turf war” involving Joe Kasper, nan now-former main of unit to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to this source, who said Kasper “felt threatened that much and much of his portfolio … was being fixed to” Selnick and Caldwell.

In response, Kasper ordered nan leak investigation that yet led to nan trio’s terminations, nan personification said.

Some of Kasper’s nominal responsibilities that Selnick and Caldwell had been overseeing included “recommendations connected appointments, decisions connected high-level charismatic visits and charismatic recreation readying — overmuch of what was emerging arsenic a privilege for that fixed week,” according to nan source.

Caldwell had besides been fixed work complete Middle East and Ukraine argumentation in Hegseth’s office, while Selnick was successful complaint of unit matters, specified arsenic canceling “DEI and personality politics” astatine nan Pentagon, nan root said.

“It was simply because [Kasper] wasn’t an effective head and balls were being dropped, decisions were not made, etc.,” nan personification claimed, adding of Kasper. “He’s a bully feline but a mediocre manager.”

Caldwell, Selnick and Carroll were officially terminated connected Friday — nan aforesaid time Kasper near his domiciled arsenic main of unit for a caller 1 “as a Special Government Employee (SGE) handling typical projects” astatine nan Pentagon, a elder defense charismatic told The Post connected Monday.

The Pentagon and White House person consistently stated that each 3 now-former labor were asked to time off because they were speaking to media outlets astir soul discussions.

“They were Pentagon labor who leaked against their leader to news agencies successful this room,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday.

“It’s been clear since time 1 from this management that we are not going to tolerate individuals who leaked to nan mainstream media, peculiarly erstwhile it comes to delicate information.”

A time earlier, Leavitt asserted that nan ex-employees were actively moving against President Trump and Hegseth.

“This is what happens erstwhile nan entire Pentagon is working against you and working against the monumental alteration you are trying to implement.

Caldwell insisted to Carlson Monday that a darker move was astatine work, saying: “We were threatening a batch of established interests successful our ain abstracted ways, and we had group who had individual vendettas against us, yes, and I deliberation they weaponized nan investigation against us.”

However, 2 abstracted defense officials told The Post connected Tuesday that nan firings had thing to do pinch governmental differences, pinch 1 saying: “There are nary ideological disputes that led to immoderate of nan firings.”

A erstwhile Trump charismatic besides formed uncertainty connected Caldwell’s accusation, noting each 3 fired officials stock akin argumentation views to Hegseth.

Still, Carlson — a erstwhile Fox News workfellow of Hegseth — suggested Caldwell had been fired for comments he had made successful nan media opposing subject action against Iran.

“By giving connected nan grounds interviews earlier you went in, describing your overseas argumentation views … location were group knew that you weren’t afloat connected committee pinch nan authorities alteration program,” Carlson said.

Defense sources adjacent to nan management opportunity discussions stay ongoing astir imaginable strikes connected Iran — apt to beryllium conducted by Israel without US forces — but emphasized that Trump is advocating first for diplomacy.

A Pentagon spokesperson did not respond to a petition for comment.