Chief of staff for Hegseth to leave the Pentagon amid controversy
Joe Kasper announced that he will continue to provide support and advice to the Pentagon, stating, "but as a special government employee."
TroibNews 
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s chief of staff, Joe Kasper, whose actions sparked considerable controversy and a significant power struggle within the Pentagon, will leave the agency today.
Initially, Kasper was expected to shift to another position within the Defense Department. However, he has decided to return to government relations and consulting, as he shared in a recent interview.
While he plans to continue supporting and advising the Pentagon, his new role will classify him as a special government employee, limiting him to temporary work for no more than 130 days a year.
Kasper, who previously served as chief of staff to indicted Rep. Duncan Hunter, played a pivotal role in the recent dismissals of senior adviser Dan Caldwell, Hegseth’s deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll, who was the chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg. These firings occurred last week amidst a leak investigation.
Some personnel viewed these dismissals as Kasper’s attempt to strengthen his hold on power within the agency.
“Kasper did not like that those guys had the secretary’s ear,” a source familiar with the situation remarked. “He did not like that they had walk-in and hanging-out privileges in the office. He wanted them out. It was a knife fight.”
The Pentagon has not provided an immediate response to requests for a comment.
On Fox & Friends, Hegseth confirmed Tuesday that Kasper would take on a different role within the Pentagon but firmly stated that his chief of staff had not been dismissed and reiterated his support for him.
“Joe is a great guy, great American,” Hegseth said. “He has done a fantastic job for us at the Defense Department…You make changes over time, and we’re grateful for everything Joe’s done.”
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
Initially, Kasper was expected to shift to another position within the Defense Department. However, he has decided to return to government relations and consulting, as he shared in a recent interview.
While he plans to continue supporting and advising the Pentagon, his new role will classify him as a special government employee, limiting him to temporary work for no more than 130 days a year.
Kasper, who previously served as chief of staff to indicted Rep. Duncan Hunter, played a pivotal role in the recent dismissals of senior adviser Dan Caldwell, Hegseth’s deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll, who was the chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg. These firings occurred last week amidst a leak investigation.
Some personnel viewed these dismissals as Kasper’s attempt to strengthen his hold on power within the agency.
“Kasper did not like that those guys had the secretary’s ear,” a source familiar with the situation remarked. “He did not like that they had walk-in and hanging-out privileges in the office. He wanted them out. It was a knife fight.”
The Pentagon has not provided an immediate response to requests for a comment.
On Fox & Friends, Hegseth confirmed Tuesday that Kasper would take on a different role within the Pentagon but firmly stated that his chief of staff had not been dismissed and reiterated his support for him.
“Joe is a great guy, great American,” Hegseth said. “He has done a fantastic job for us at the Defense Department…You make changes over time, and we’re grateful for everything Joe’s done.”
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
