A group of military officers and civilian Pentagon staff is reportedly orchestrating a public pressure campaign to force Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth out of office, according to a Wednesday report by the Daily Mail. The campaign centers on a scathing letter, signed by Pentagon insiders, that denounces Hegseth’s leadership as unfit and calls for his removal, citing a range of grievances from politicized decision-making to widespread dysfunction within the Department of Defense.
The Daily Mail report, based on interviews with three anonymous Pentagon officials—two military and one civilian, each with over 20 years of experience—reveals that the letter has been in development since May.
The group, which includes representatives from all military branches except the Coast Guard, plans to release the letter publicly as early as next week. The insiders claim they are driven by a desire to “let the American public know this guy has no clue what he’s doing,” as one official told the Daily Mail.
They expressed fears of job loss, prosecution by the Trump administration, or replacement by less experienced personnel less likely to challenge Hegseth’s decisions, prompting their anonymity.The letter reportedly criticizes Hegseth for fostering an environment of paranoia, low morale, and bureaucratic gridlock, driven by his alleged obsession with rooting out dissent and leaks.
Insiders pointed to specific issues, including his disregard for input from intelligence, security, and legal advisors, which they say has led to chaotic and inconsistent policies. One prominent example cited is Hegseth’s decision to deploy approximately 4,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles during recent protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, a move one official described as unwise and unsupported within the Pentagon.
Further grievances include Hegseth’s focus on optics over substance, such as installing a makeup studio in the Pentagon and staging photo ops lifting weights with troops to promote his “warrior ethos.”
Critics argue these gestures are superficial and distract from pressing national security challenges, including tensions in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The letter also reportedly condemns Hegseth’s new grooming and shaving policy, which could lead to discharges for soldiers with skin conditions like razor bumps, disproportionately affecting Black service members. “With everything that’s happening in the world, he’s choosing to focus on razor bumps,” one insider remarked.
The group also expressed alarm over Hegseth’s push to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, claiming it has led to an increase in racist incidents and left non-white staff feeling undervalued.
Additionally, some officials reported feeling pressured to attend Christian prayer services organized by Hegseth during work hours, despite their optional status.
Sean Parnell, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, defended Hegseth, dismissing the allegations as “palace intrigue” and “sensationalized mainstream media gossip.”
Speaking on Steve Bannon’s War Room on Wednesday, Parnell called the plotters “anonymous deep state hacks” and highlighted the Pentagon’s recent success in the “Midnight Hammer” attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities as evidence of Hegseth’s effective leadership.
He argued that such criticisms were absent during previous controversies, such as former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s temporary absence during the Afghanistan withdrawal.
The reported plot adds to a turbulent tenure for Hegseth, a former Fox News host with limited government experience, who was confirmed as Defense Secretary in January 2025 by a narrow 51-50 Senate vote. His leadership has faced scrutiny for chaotic management, including the firing of key aides, restrictions on press access , and leaks of sensitive information via unsecured messaging apps.
A New York Times report from April described the Pentagon as in “disarray” under Hegseth, while a former Pentagon spokesperson, John Ullyot, warned of “total chaos” in a Politico op-ed.
As the letter’s release looms, the campaign could intensify pressure on Hegseth, whose tenure has already drawn criticism from both Republicans and Democrats. Whether this effort will gain traction or be dismissed as internal dissent remains uncertain, but it underscores deep divisions within the Pentagon under Hegseth’s leadership.