Pentagon hires conservative veterans in secretive roles

The Pentagon is facing fresh questions over transparency after several retired military officers with large conservative social-media audiences were placed in civilian government positions without publicly revealing their exact assignments.

The appointments involve veterans who have become influential online commentators and have openly supported Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Trump administration.

Among those identified are retired Air Force Col. Rob Maness, retired Army Col. Kurt Schlichter and retired Army Col. Thomas Anderson, who publishes online as Cynical Publius.

Pentagon records reportedly show that Maness and Schlichter were issued government email addresses carrying the “.civ” designation and were connected to the office of Anthony Tata, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness.

Anderson was also previously listed with a civilian Pentagon email address and an assignment to Tata’s office, although his name was no longer appearing in the records late last week.

The three veterans command substantial audiences on social media, with Schlichter having nearly 620,000 followers on X, Anderson more than 323,000 and Maness over 135,000.

Despite their government affiliations, their specific duties and appointments had not previously been publicly announced.

The Pentagon has not disclosed whether the three are receiving taxpayer-funded salaries, what responsibilities they have been given or how long they are expected to remain in their positions.

People familiar with the arrangements said the veterans were classified either as special government employees or highly qualified experts, categories that allow the government to bring outside specialists into federal service under different employment arrangements.

The appointments have attracted particular scrutiny because the individuals continued producing political commentary while their government roles remained undisclosed.

Maness has publicly argued for removing career officials he considers disloyal, while Schlichter has repeatedly expressed support for Hegseth and President Donald Trump.

Anderson has also defended Hegseth’s efforts to change military policy and frequently criticized journalists and political opponents of the administration.

The three reportedly participated in a Pentagon-related Senior Service College Task Force visit to the Army War College in Pennsylvania in May.

The task force was established to review military education and examine what Hegseth has characterized as ideological problems within military institutions.

The controversy comes amid a wider transformation of the Pentagon’s approach to media and public communications.

The Defense Department introduced new restrictions on journalists covering the Pentagon in 2025, leading several established news organizations to withdraw from the building.

Following those changes, conservative media organizations and independent online creators gained a larger presence within the Pentagon’s press environment.

The department has also faced questions over its relationships with conservative social-media personalities who have moved between media roles and government positions.

Jennica Pounds, known online as DataRepublican, previously disclosed that she had become a special government employee for the Defense Department after holding a Pentagon press credential.

Critics argue that undisclosed government appointments involving political commentators can blur the line between official government communications and partisan advocacy.

Former Republican congressman and Air Force veteran Adam Kinzinger has questioned whether public money could be supporting political messaging through influential online personalities.

The Pentagon has not publicly provided enough information to determine the precise authority or responsibilities assigned to the three veterans.

That lack of disclosure has become central to the controversy, particularly because their public political activity continued alongside their government affiliations.

Supporters could argue that bringing experienced military professionals and outside experts into government is legitimate, while critics say taxpayers deserve to know who is working inside the Defense Department and what role they are performing.

The episode highlights the broader challenge facing Hegseth as he attempts to reshape both Pentagon policy and its public image.

Until the department releases clearer information about compensation, duties, employment status and appointment duration, questions over transparency and potential conflicts of interest are likely to continue.