Washington: The Hegseth Pentagon has been marked by distrust, secrecy and concerns about loyalty, CNN reported after interviews with 15 current and former officials.
The report focused on Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s handling of senior military leaders, including the abrupt firing of Army Chief of Staff General Randy George.
CNN said George requested an in-person meeting with Hegseth on April 1 to discuss Army priorities. The next day, Hegseth fired him.
The report said Hegseth had blocked some Army promotions and removed more than two dozen senior officers during his tenure.
Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell rejected CNN’s account. He said anonymous sources had a political agenda and accused them of trying to undermine Hegseth.
Read: Pete Hegseth Confirmed as US Defence Secretary Amidst Serious Allegations
Parnell said leadership changes were aimed at aligning the military with the priorities of President Donald Trump, Hegseth and U.S. warfighters.
CNN also reported that restricted access and tight control of information affected Pentagon planning before the war with Iran.
CNN’s report said Hegseth’s team has focused on investigating leaks amid ongoing internal tensions across the Defence Department.
