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MaddowBlog-Hegseth's ongoing Pentagon purge continues to destabilize the military
The sheer volume of U.S. military leaders who have left Hegseth’s Defense Department, through either firings or resignations, is extraordinary.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
— Trump's 'Noble' Peace Prize (@laboomer68.bsky.social) 2026-02-18T18:24:25.408Z
Hegseth’s ongoing Pentagon purge continues to destabilize the military.
The sheer volume of U.S. military leaders who have left Hegseth’s Defense Department, through either firings or resignations, is extraordinary.
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/hegseths-ongoing-pentagon-purge-continues-to-destabilize-the-military
Toward the end of his unsettling speech to the nation’s generals and admirals in late September, when he made the case that, in essence, testosterone is the key to modern warfare, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered an unsubtle message to his audience.....
It was a pointed reminder that Hegseth is not exactly open to engaging with military officials whose views differ from his own. On the contrary, he’s proved himself eager to purge the armed forces of those he deems unworthy — a campaign that’s ongoing. MS NOW reported:
The report added that it’s unclear why Hegseth took issue with Butler, who officially retired, though according to multiple accounts, he worked closely with Gen. Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff whom the defense secretary and the Trump White House now consider a political opponent.
The New York Times’ report added, “It is unusual for a defense secretary to weigh in on the firing of an Army spokesman.”....
A year ago next week, five former defense secretaries — including retired Gen. Jim Mattis, Donald Trump’s first defense secretary — condemned the pattern of firings as “reckless.” Their joint letter, addressed to Congress, asked that the House and the Senate hold “immediate hearings to assess the national security implications” of the dismissals.
Hegseth and the administration appear to have ignored those concerns; the purge is ongoing; and GOP leaders on Capitol Hill have scheduled no such hearings.
Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, who served as a Marine officer in Iraq and now serves on the House Armed Services Committee, spoke to Politico about Hegseth’s purges, which the congressman described as politically motivated.
“That’s a recipe not just for a politicized military, but an authoritarian military,” Moulton said. “That’s the way militaries work in Russia and China and North Korea.”
The Massachusetts Democrat made those comments in May. The problem is worse now.
It was a pointed reminder that Hegseth is not exactly open to engaging with military officials whose views differ from his own. On the contrary, he’s proved himself eager to purge the armed forces of those he deems unworthy — a campaign that’s ongoing. MS NOW reported:
A senior U.S. military adviser has abruptly departed the Army after reportedly being forced out by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Col. Dave Butler, who served as communications adviser to Army chief of staff Gen. Randy George and Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, was fired on Hegseth’s orders, according to Fox News, The Washington Post and The New York Times.
The report added that it’s unclear why Hegseth took issue with Butler, who officially retired, though according to multiple accounts, he worked closely with Gen. Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff whom the defense secretary and the Trump White House now consider a political opponent.
The New York Times’ report added, “It is unusual for a defense secretary to weigh in on the firing of an Army spokesman.”....
A year ago next week, five former defense secretaries — including retired Gen. Jim Mattis, Donald Trump’s first defense secretary — condemned the pattern of firings as “reckless.” Their joint letter, addressed to Congress, asked that the House and the Senate hold “immediate hearings to assess the national security implications” of the dismissals.
Hegseth and the administration appear to have ignored those concerns; the purge is ongoing; and GOP leaders on Capitol Hill have scheduled no such hearings.
Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, who served as a Marine officer in Iraq and now serves on the House Armed Services Committee, spoke to Politico about Hegseth’s purges, which the congressman described as politically motivated.
“That’s a recipe not just for a politicized military, but an authoritarian military,” Moulton said. “That’s the way militaries work in Russia and China and North Korea.”
The Massachusetts Democrat made those comments in May. The problem is worse now.