Pentagon in chaos: Pete Hegseth's last-minute flip sparks showdown with Donald Trump's top general
Pentagon
.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth'
s last-minute choice to reverse a major Army promotion has angered people inside the Army and put him at odds with General Dan "Razin" Caine, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. The unexpected move has made things even more unstable in the Department of Defense.
Pete Hegseth suddenly turned down the promotion of respected
Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims
, even though it had already been approved. Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine stepped in, which is unusual, and the move fueled rumors of problems with Hegseth's leadership at the Pentagon.
Explore courses from Top Institutes in
Please select course:
Select a Course Category
Data Analytics
Artificial Intelligence
Technology
MBA
healthcare
Data Science
PGDM
Others
Operations Management
Leadership
Management
Product Management
Data Science
Project Management
Degree
Digital Marketing
others
Finance
Healthcare
Design Thinking
Public Policy
CXO
Cybersecurity
MCA
Skills you'll gain:
Data Analysis & Visualization
Predictive Analytics & Machine Learning
Business Intelligence & Data-Driven Decision Making
Analytics Strategy & Implementation
Duration:
12 Weeks
Indian School of Business
Applied Business Analytics
Starts on
Jun 13, 2024
Get Details
Insiders told The New York Times that Hegseth's decision to sabotage Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims's promotion after previously approving it was the most recent disaster in his tenure as defense secretary.
Sims, a 34-year veteran of the Army, has received multiple medals, including a Bronze Star and a Legion of Merit, and led troops during five tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, as per a report by the Daily Beast.
ALSO READ:
Donald Trump wants 94-year-old Rupert Murdoch be grilled in court, says he might die before trial
Live Events
The Times quoted Brynt Parmeter, the Pentagon's chief talent management officer until June, as saying, "He's the kind of person you would want your kids serving under, extremely dedicated, selfless, and loyal."
What changed Pete Hegseth's mind on Sims' promotion?
He said he had vague concerns and connections to Gen. Mark Milley. Insiders said that until this spring, when Hegseth asserted without proof that Sims had leaked information to news organizations, his promotion to a four-star general appeared to be inevitable, as per a report by the Daily Beast.
Sims was exonerated of the charge, and Hegseth temporarily consented to give him a promotion. Eventually, however, Hegseth broke his word, claiming that Sims was too close to Gen. Mark Milley.
The president now despises Milley, a former chairman of the Trump Joint Chiefs, who has called Trump a "total fascist" and suggested that Milley should be put to death.
How did the Joint Chiefs respond to the reversal?
Trump is a huge admirer of
Joint Chiefs of Staff
Chairman Dan "Razin" Caine, who made what the Times described as a "rare intervention" in response to Hegseth's refusal to promote Sims.
According to the insiders, Caine urged the defense secretary to change his mind and contested his decision. The Pentagon sent a statement from chief spokesman Sean Parnell, who thanked Sims for "his decades of service in the United States Army," as per a report by the Daily Beast.
Is Pete Hegseth losing control at the Pentagon?
The Pentagon has been in disarray during Hegseth's time as defense secretary. Recent months have seen reports of Hegseth's paranoia about leaks, internal strife among his top aides, and difficulties hiring and retaining employees.
Trump, however, has maintained his support for Hegseth, telling the Times that he still has "full confidence" in the defense secretary.
Whether the backlash over Sims' blocked promotion leads to lasting consequences remains to be seen, but the incident has clearly intensified the already volatile dynamic inside the Pentagon.
FAQs
Why did
Hegseth
stop Sims' promotion?
Despite his initial support for the promotion, Hegseth cited unproven leaks and Sims' relationship with former Gen. Mark Milley.
Who got involved in the decision?
Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine personally urged Hegseth to reconsider, posing a rare internal challenge to a defense secretary.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
17 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Operation Sindoor and Chenab Bridge to feature on Independence Day invites
Independence Day invites from the Ministry of Defence for this year's Independence Day celebrations will have Operation Sindoor as the central theme, an official said on Monday (August 4, 2025). In another change, the Central Vista image embossed on the cards will be replaced by a sketch of the world's highest railway bridge that spans the Chenab river, which was recently inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Posters and banners around the venue will also mention Operation Sindoor. Operation Sindoor was launched by India on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in which 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen were murdered. Security briefing A high level meeting was held at the Red Fort regarding the Independence Day celebrations. Security agencies have recommended bulletproof glass around the Prime Minister's dais, but the final decision is yet to be taken. This year more guests will be invited to attend the celebration. To accommodate them, more tiered seating structures have been prepared. 'Installation of anti-drone measures, a radar near the Red Fort, and the threat posed by unmanned devices were discussed in detail with the Army. The Ministry of Defence will be deploying an anti-drone system to prevent any aerial breach, and the Indian Air Force will be on high alert. Drones are among our key security concerns. We have also instructed vendors responsible for installing CCTVs around the venue not to use any Chinese equipment for surveillance purposes,' said an official.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Pentagon's "Biggest Order For AMRAAMS" As Wars in Ukraine, Middle East Drain Missile Stockpile
The USAF has issued contracts collectively worth roughly $7.8 billion to boost the Pentagon's stockpile of air-to-air, air-to-ground, and ship-killing munitionsThe largest award of nearly $4.3 billion went to Lockheed Martin for production of the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) and the Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM)The contract also includes foreign military sales for Finland, Japan, the Netherlands and Poland n18oc_world n18oc_crux
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Biden allies threaten Kamala Harris: Talk about Joe's decline and we'll expose you with ugly stories
Biden allies threaten Kamala Harris : Reports indicate that tensions are rising between former President Joe Biden 's close circle and former Vice President Kamala Harris. Insiders say that if Harris talks about Biden's cognitive issues, stories that hurt her own image may come out in response. Mark Halperin , a journalist, says that Biden's friends are ready to leak embarrassing stories about Kamala Harris's time as vice president if she criticizes Joe Biden's cognitive decline. The warning comes as Harris comes back into the public eye to promote her 2024 campaign memoir, which raises more questions about both her and Biden's political futures. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program ALSO READ: iPhone 17 release date confirmed, Apple promises its most powerful iPhone ever - here's what fans can expect Why are Joe Biden's allies issuing warnings to Kamala Harris? by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo On Friday's episode of his show The Morning Meeting, veteran political reporter Mark Halperin broke the news. He started by saying, "I'll tell you, and this has never been reported, barely at all.' 'If the Biden people decide that Kamala is coming after Joe Biden, wait till you hear the Palinesque stories about how much they tried to help her be prepared to be vice president and be in a position to run. And how much they decided, 'Not happening. She's not up to this,' as quoted in a report by the Daily Beast. What are the alleged stories about Harris? During her media tour to promote her new book, 107 Days, which chronicles the 2024 campaign, Halperin stated that the stories about Harris would only be made public if she turned on Biden. Live Events "It's not like they're at war currently, but I'm telling you, if Joe Biden feels threatened, if his people feel threatened by her, this is gonna escalate in a big way," Halperin stated, as per a report by the Daily Beast. According to Halperin, Biden's team went above and beyond to assist her in carrying out her duties as vice president. They gave her every chance and discovered that she had some problems in certain cases. Since Donald Trump defeated Harris in November of 2024, Harris has avoided the limelight. Biden's withdrawal as the Democratic nominee shortened her campaign timeline, which is referenced in the book's title. This week, Harris declared she would not run for governor of California in 2026, but the development has raised questions about her political future. Joe Biden, who left the 2024 contest after a dismal debate performance against Trump, has been held accountable by some Democrats for giving Harris so little time to run a strong campaign. ALSO READ: iOS 18.6 is live — change these 10 hidden settings now to supercharge your iPhone How does this tie into Biden's rumored decline? The feud gains further complexity as rumors about President Biden's cognitive health continue to swirl. There have also been allegations that Biden experienced cognitive decline while in office, which his inner circle of family members and aides covered up. Biden's aides considered getting him a wheelchair, and he couldn't recognize actor George Clooney, according to the embarrassing revelations in the book Original Sin, written by journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson and published in May. The Republican-led congressional probe into whether Biden made decisions during his presidency is currently underway. Biden has insisted adamantly that he made the decisions, as per a report. Sarah Palin, a former governor of Alaska, was late senator John McCain's running mate in the 2008 presidential campaign. Following McCain's defeat by Barack Obama, Palin was inundated with allegations that she was unsuited to serve as vice president, including that she was unaware that Africa was a continent. These claims came from within her own campaign. FAQs What are Biden's allies threatening to do to Kamala Harris? They may leak damaging information about her time as Vice President if she speaks out about Biden's mental decline. Why is this happening right now? kamala Harris is promoting her campaign book, and tensions are rising as she reclaims the spotlight.
