Joe Kasper, chief of staff to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has departed his position at the Pentagon following a series of internal investigations into unauthorized disclosures. Kasper will continue to advise the Department of Defense as a special government employee, limited to 130 working days per year.
Kasper’s exit follows the termination of three senior aides—Dan Caldwell, Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll—who were dismissed amid a probe into leaks of sensitive information. The investigation, initiated by Kasper, focused on unauthorized disclosures related to military operations and internal communications.
A Pentagon official told Fox News, “This is not about interpersonal conflict. There is evidence of leaking. This is about unauthorized disclosures, up to and including classified information.”
The internal turmoil has raised concerns about leadership stability within the Department of Defense. Reports indicate that the rapid staff turnover has disrupted internal communications and slowed decision-making processes.
Despite the controversies, President Donald Trump has expressed continued support for Hegseth, stating that he is “doing a great job.”
