​Pentagon Turmoil: Chief of Staff Joe Kasper Removed Amid 'Signalgate' Scandal​

The Pentagon is experiencing significant upheaval as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's chief of staff, Joe Kasper, has been removed from his position—the fourth high-ranking official to be dismissed or reassigned in recent days. Kasper will remain at the Pentagon in a different capacity, working on special projects, according to a defense official.​

These leadership changes come amid an ongoing investigation into the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive military information via the encrypted messaging app Signal. The controversy, dubbed "Signalgate," centers on Hegseth's use of Signal to discuss operational details of U.S. military actions, including strikes in Yemen. Reports indicate that Hegseth shared information about targets and weapons deployment in group chats that included senior officials and, in some cases, personal contacts. While the messages reportedly avoided classified information, the Pentagon has guidelines prohibiting the sharing of operational details through unauthorized apps like Signal. ​The Washington Post

In addition to Kasper's reassignment, three senior aides—Dan Caldwell, Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll—have been ousted from the Pentagon. The dismissals are officially linked to the leak investigation, but the former advisers have publicly criticized the actions as unjust, accusing unnamed Pentagon officials of damaging their reputations without providing clarity on the investigation's specifics or status.  

Caldwell, a former Pentagon adviser, has claimed that his firing was politically motivated due to his foreign policy views, particularly his opposition to a potential U.S. attack on Iran. He denies any involvement in leaks and suggests his dismissal stemmed from challenging entrenched interests and internal vendettas within the Department of Defense. ​Politico

The turmoil has intensified scrutiny of Defense Secretary Hegseth, who is already under investigation by the Pentagon's Inspector General for his handling of sensitive military information via Signal. Critics argue that Hegseth's actions may amount to mishandling national defense information and possibly violating federal laws, such as the Espionage Act and the Federal Records Act. ​PoliticoThe Washington Post

The recent wave of dismissals also includes Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, the U.S. military’s representative to NATO, who was fired in early April due to a "loss of confidence in her ability to lead," according to a Pentagon statement. In February, Hegseth dismissed several senior officers, including the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. C.Q. Brown, as part of a broader effort to remove officials associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and the withdrawal from Afghanistan. ​

As the Pentagon grapples with these leadership changes and ongoing investigations, concerns are mounting over the stability and direction of the Department of Defense under the current administration.