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.
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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.
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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.
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