The Pentagon's chaotic communications team

Politico

2 days ago

With help from Maggie Miller, Dana Nickel and Nahal Toosi
Subscribe here | Email Robbie | Email Eric
The Pentagon's public affairs shop is grappling with staffing and management issues that have left one of the government's largest and most powerful agencies largely silent amid months of PR crises.
At least 12 officials from the Defense public affairs shop — which responds to DOD press queries — have left the agency in recent weeks, with many taking deferred resignation offers, according to two people familiar with the matter, who like others, were granted anonymity to discuss internal personnel movements. The office held 32 people in January, according to an office roster.
The departures come as the Defense Department transforms how it engages with the press. Chief Pentagon spokesperson and senior adviser SEAN PARNELL has briefed the media on camera once since taking the job nearly three months ago.
And Defense Secretary PETE HEGSETH has largely shunned traditional media, cutting travel privileges, restricting their access inside the Pentagon and eliminating the offices of unfavored media outlets in favor of far-right organizations.
Hegseth and Parnell have instead put out near-weekly updates from their own offices in videos that usually last around two minutes. The Defense Department has also launched rapid response social media accounts to amplify positive headlines about its activities and to hit back at reporters writing negative stories about Hegseth and the agency.
'There's nobody who's out taking questions, answering and steering reporters and basically explaining Hegseth's positions,' said one person familiar with the departures. 'There's nobody defending Hegseth, and he's just looking very weak.'
While Parnell has avoided media briefings in the press room, officials have used it to host high schoolers and college students, the children of Pentagon employees, the winner of the Miss America pageant and as a backdrop for Hegseth's appearances on Fox News.
Parnell, who has not previously served in the Pentagon, has been participating in introductory courses to get up to speed on the DOD's priorities, according to four people familiar with the matter.
To expand his knowledge of the Defense Department, Parnell was given hour-long 'DOD 101' crash courses from the Pentagon's Defense public affairs shop, which featured handout PowerPoint slides and maps, according to the people.
It is not uncommon for Pentagon press officials, especially those new to the agency, to get briefings from subject matter experts before going to the podium. But the extent of the courses, which have included U.S. operations around the world, suggest that Parnell has faced a steep learning curve since stepping into the job in February.
He's been called 'Silent Sean' by some press office colleagues, the person said. That stands in contrast to the White House and State Department, where Trump administration officials brief the media regularly — and routinely bring press along on domestic and international travel.
'A spokesperson is supposed to be a flak jacket for the boss,' said the first person familiar. 'That's the whole job, and the job is not being done. Parnell is AWOL, period.'
The Pentagon did not respond to questions about Parnell's orientation sessions, the departures or the limited number of press briefings.
Pentagon press secretary KINGSLEY WILSON said in a statement that Parnell has made himself regularly available to the press, including during Hegseth's recent trip to Asia. 'On the five-day trip, members of the media will have direct and unfettered access to Parnell, like they do every single day at the Pentagon,' she said.
Parnell did not hold any press conferences in Asia.
The Inbox
UKRAINE'S NEXT MOVE: Ukraine carried out a series of military surprise attacks against Russia that shows its far from out of the fight. The latest offensive came today when Kyiv targeted Russia's symbolically important Kerch Bridge to Crimea with explosives. That followed a massive drone attack that mauled Russia's fleet of strategic bombers deep inside the country.
Meanwhile, a top aide to Ukrainian President VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY touched down in Washington today for meetings with the Trump administration. He's trying to rally more U.S. support for Kyiv as negotiations with Russia hit an apparent impasse. And Zelenskyy's chief of staff ANDRIY YERMAK is in Washington to talk about military cooperation and the bilateral rare earths mineral deal with the Trump administration.
Read: The game plan of Zelenskyy's powerful chief of staff by our colleague Jamie Dettmer for POLITICO.
STATE RESPONDS TO TABLADA: The State Department is making it crystal clear that the U.S. is not interested in making nice with Cuba.
The State Department told NatSec Daily in a statement that 'we have no indication that the regime has a meaningful agenda to pursue with the Trump administration.'
State also said Cuba 'continues to unjustly detain American citizens, harbor U.S. fugitives, and has failed to release the 553 political prisoners it promised Pope Francis, while also re-arresting opposition leaders JOSÉ DANIEL FERRER and FÉLIX NAVARRO.'
Their comments come in response to Eric's interview Monday with senior Cuban official JOHANA TABLADA. Tablada told Eric that she and other top Cuban officials are being snubbed by the U.S. government, even though Cuba is honoring the terms of a 2017 deportation agreement. She also insisted Cuba would uphold its end of the bargain despite harsher measures against Havana.
WILL XI OR WON'T XI: President DONALD TRUMP insists a call with China's leader XI JINPING will help reset souring trade talks. But even if that conversation happens this week, don't expect a major breakthrough, our own Phelim Kine and team report today.
Trump is convinced he can personally hash out deep-seated divisions between the world's two largest economies mano a mano with Xi. He's 'obsessed' with a call, said one person familiar with the trade talks.
If and when the call comes, we'll be watching closely to see if the two leaders talk about more than just tariffs — namely growing military tensions over Taiwan or other national security issues that have put the two world superpowers on a collision course.
IT'S TUESDAY: Thanks for tuning in to NatSec Daily! This space is reserved for the top U.S. and foreign officials, the lawmakers, the lobbyists, the experts and the people like you who care about how the natsec sausage gets made. Aim your tips and comments at [e-mail] and [e-mail], and follow Robbie and Eric on X @RobbieGramer and @ebazaileimil.
While you're at it, follow the rest of POLITICO's global security team on X and Bluesky at: @dave_brown24, @HeidiVogt, @jessicameyers, @RosiePerper, @nahaltoosi.bsky.social‬, @PhelimKine, @ak_mack, @felschwartz, @connorobrienNH, @paulmcleary, @reporterjoe, @JackDetsch, @samuelskove, @magmill95, @johnnysaks130 and @delizanickel
Keystrokes
LET HIM IN: A group of cyber experts is endorsing Trump's pick for national cyber director two days before the Senate Homeland Security Committee holds his confirmation hearing, our own Dana Nickel writes in.
Current cybersecurity industry leaders and former government officials are among the 24 people who signed a letter of support for SEAN CAIRNCROSS to panel Chair RAND PAUL (R-Ky.) and ranking member GARY PETERS (D-Mich.).
Trump tapped Cairncross, a former RNC official, in February for the role. While he lacks any cybersecurity experience, the industry has appeared relatively optimistic about him.
Cairncross will face the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Thursday alongside SEAN PLANKEY, Trump's pick to head the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Plankey, who served in cyber roles in the first Trump administration, has also received wide support from the cyber sector.
HEAD DOWN: The acting leader of the State Department's cyber bureau is urging employees to stay focused on the organization's mission amid a major reorganization, including ensuring allied nations steer clear of the use of Chinese artificial intelligence tools, our own Maggie Miller writes in.
'What I tell the team all the time when they ask me, 'how do we help you in this time of reorganization?' I say, do your jobs, do it well, show your value,' JENNIFER BACHUS, acting head of the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, said during a panel at the AI+ Expo on Tuesday.
The comments were the first made by bureau leadership since, as POLITICO first reported, it became clear that the State Department will split the CDP apart into three offices. Bachus stressed that despite the changes, the CDP was focused on 'our mandate' and ensuring personnel do 'not really miss a beat during a time where there is a lot going on.'
The Complex
MEMBERS' F-35 WISHES: A bipartisan group of House members is urging top defense lawmakers to keep funding for the F-35 program in this year's budget.
The letter to House Armed Services Chair MIKE ROGERS (R-Ala.), ranking member Rep. ADAM SMITH (D-Wash.) and top defense appropriators Reps. KEN CALVERT (R-Calif.) and BETTY McCOLLUM (D-Minn.) was signed by 125 House members from both parties. They argued 'the F-35 serves as the cornerstone' of most of the services' tactical fighter fleets and 'has a significant impact on local economies.' They urge that 'the U.S. and its allies must stay the course and invest in the F-35's sustainment, production and modernization.'
The message highlights the continued staying power of the F-35 program, which has received more than $1.3 trillion dollars over its decades-long lifetime. And it comes as defense policymakers look to make adjustments across the budget to support new Pentagon priorities, including the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.
On the Hill
OVERRULED: The Senate today approved Trump's pick for Pentagon acquisitions chief despite uniform opposition from Democrats, as our own Connor O'Brien reports today (for Pros!).
MICHAEL DUFFEY — who has served in several roles at the Defense Department and was an official in the White House budget office during Trump's first term — was confirmed in a party-line 51-46 vote. All Democrats present opposed Duffey amid concerns that include his role in withholding military aid to Ukraine, an issue that led to Trump's first impeachment.
Duffey assumes the role at a pivotal time. Major weapons efforts, such as the Sentinel ICBM program and Navy shipbuilding, are mired in delays and cost overruns. Hegseth and lawmakers in both parties are also pushing to more quickly put new technology in troops' hands.
HEADS UP: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is tackling transnational criminal groups in the Western Hemisphere tomorrow, and Democrats are keen to highlight the global implications of gangs in the region.
A spokesperson for committee Democrats told us ranking member JEANNE SHAHEEN (D-N.H.) will focus on how these groups undermine democratic institutions and human rights in other countries, and how they enable the flow of drugs into the country. Shaheen will also emphasize how important addressing transnational crime is for the U.S. strategy to counter China and Russia.
We asked Chair JIM RISCH (R-Idaho)'s staff to preview his comments at tomorrow's hearing, but they didn't respond before the newsletter went out.
Broadsides
WHO'S AFRAID OF MILK? Hegseth ordered the Navy to rename an oiler ship honoring gay rights advocate HARVEY MILK, our own Paul McLeary writes in.
There was no real reason given for the renaming, which seldom ever occurs. But the move, coming during Pride Month no less, reflects the Trump administration's desire to remove nods to greater inclusion in the Armed Forces. Miltary.com first reported on the planned move.
And it may not stop at Milk, according to CBS News. The Navy also is considering giving new names to a raft of warships commemorating prominent civil rights leaders. These include the USNS Thurgood Marshall, USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg, USNS Harriet Tubman, USNS Dolores Huerta, USNS Lucy Stone, USNS Cesar Chavez and USNS Medgar Evers.
Parnell, the Pentagon spokesperson, said in response to the reports: 'Secretary Hegseth is committed to ensuring that the names attached to all DOD installations and assets are reflective of the Commander-in-Chief's priorities, our nation's history, and the warrior ethos. Any potential renaming(s) will be announced after internal reviews are complete.'
Transitions
— CYNTHIA KAISER is leaving her role at the FBI as the assistant director of the bureau's cyber, policy and engagement branch to join the cyber resilience firm Halcyon, our own Dana Nickel scoops in Morning Cyber (for Pros!).
— Navy Vice Adm. FRANK BRADLEY has been tapped by Trump to lead the U.S. Special Operations Command, the Defense Department announced today.
— The Center for Strategic and International Studies has named ENOH T. EBONG president of its global development department. Ebong is formerly the director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.
— ALAN ESTEVEZ joined the board of directors of tungsten mining firm Almonty Industries. He served as undersecretary of Commerce for industry and security in the Biden administration.
— Dinámica Americas is adding SARAH-ANN LYNCH, MIKE FITZPATRICK and JAMES STORY as senior advisers. All three have served as ambassadors. Dinámica Americas is a Western Hemisphere-focused advisory firm.
— The Cohen Group has hired CHRISTOPHER SKALUBA as a vice president. He previously served as executive director of the Pentagon's Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office and held senior policy roles at the Atlantic Council and DOD's policy office.
— PAUL ARCANGELI was named senior vice president of government relations and strategy at Mach Industries. He previously served as House Armed Services Committee staff director and was most recently a vice president at Invariant.
— LIZ ABRAHAM is now a counsel in White & Case's international trade practice. She previously was director of the international policy office at the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security.
— KEN FARNASO is now an associate in the public affairs, regulation and geopolitical practice at the Brunswick Group. He is a Trump, NIKKI HALEY, TIM SCOTT and PLUS Communications alum.
What to Read
— Simon Shuster, TIME: Ukraine's Drone Strikes Against Russia Could Become the Global Norm
— Benedict Smith, The Telegraph: Trump official who shut down counter-Russia agency has links to Kremlin
— Kathryn Paik and John Augé, Center for Strategic and International Studies: China Courts the Pacific: Key Takeaways from the 2025 China–Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting
Tomorrow Today
— Atlantic Council, 9:45 a.m.: US-Central Asia Forum
— Senate Foreign Relations Committee, 10 a.m.: Dismantling transnational criminal organizations in the Americas
— Center for Strategic and International Studies, 10 a.m.: America's 'Golden Dome' Explained
— Center for Strategic and International Studies, 1 p.m.: Combatting State Hostage Taking and Wrongful Detention
— Senate Foreign Relations Committee, 2:30 p.m.: China's malign influence in Africa
Thanks to our editors, Jessica Meyers and Emily Lussier, who are a communication shop's worst nightmare.