Pentagon secretly hired conservative influencers, critics say they push partisan political messages

The Pentagon has quietly placed several conservative veterans with large online audiences in government roles that could affect policy, according to people familiar with the appointments and documents reviewed by The Washington Post.

The duties of the appointees have not been disclosed. Sources said they promote Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s views and attack people who scrutinize the Trump administration. The sources spoke anonymously, citing the sensitivity of the matter. Neither the Pentagon nor the individuals involved has publicly identified the positions.

Pentagon documents reviewed during the previous week showed that retired Air Force Colonel Rob Maness and retired Army Colonel Kurt Schlichter had active official government email addresses. Both were assigned to the office of Anthony Tata, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. Their addresses used the “.civ” suffix, indicating civilian employees rather than military personnel or contractors.

Both men served for decades in the military before becoming conservative commentators with large online audiences. Retired Colonel Thomas Anderson also appeared to be assigned to Tata’s office, although his name no longer appeared in Pentagon documents at the end of the previous week. The responsibilities of all three had not previously been disclosed.

The Pentagon did not say whether the men receive public money, what positions they hold, or how long they will serve. Maness and Schlichter did not respond to requests for comment, while Anderson declined to comment. The individuals are classified either as special government employees, who may work no more than 130 days in a 365-day period, or as highly qualified experts, who may work full or part time with or without pay. Tata’s team has examined military colleges for “woke” ideology and reviewed the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement for service members. Conservative influencer Jennica Pounds separately disclosed that she works for the Defense Department as a special government employee, after holding press credentials through June.