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Straits Times
20-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Another top aide to US defence chief Hegseth leaves the Pentagon
Find out what's new on ST website and app. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth (right) speaking to reporters while meeting Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz at the Pentagon on July 18. WASHINGTON – A top adviser to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has left his position, the Pentagon announced late on July 19, becoming the latest in a string of senior officials to leave the department's top ranks. The official, Mr Justin Fulcher, joined the Trump administration as part of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Mr Elon Musk's government overhaul initiative, and later became an adviser to Mr Hegseth. In a statement, Mr Fulcher said he had planned to work for the federal government for only six months. Earlier this month, The Washington Post detailed a confrontation between Mr Fulcher and other DOGE staff members assigned to the Pentagon. But officials downplayed that incident as a cause, insisting Mr Fulcher's exit was friendly. Mr Sean Parnell, the chief Pentagon spokesperson, said in a statement that 'the Department of Defence is grateful to Justin Fulcher for his work on behalf of President Trump and Secretary Hegseth'. Under Mr Hegseth, the office of the Secretary of Defence, the core group of advisers who help manage the Pentagon's sprawling bureaucracy, has undergone an unusual amount of turnover. In April, Mr Dan Caldwell and Mr Darin Selnick, aides to Mr Hegseth, were placed on leave from the Pentagon amid a leak investigation . Mr Colin Carroll, the chief of staff to Deputy Defence Secretary Stephen A. Feinberg, was also removed from the Pentagon. After those actions, Mr Joe Kasper, Mr Hegseth's first chief of staff, was moved to a different position. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Priority for singles, higher quota for second-timer families to kick in from HDB's July BTO exercise Singapore Witness stand not arena for humiliation in sex offence cases, judge reminds lawyers Asia Japan PM's future in doubt after election debacle Business Bigger, quieter, greener: High-volume low-speed fans see rising demand in warming Singapore Singapore New home owners in Singapore find kampung spirit on BTO Telegram groups Singapore What would it take for S'pore to shed the dirty image of its blue recycling bins? Business DBS hits record high above $47; CDL up after director Philip Yeo announces resignation World Gaza civil defence says Israeli fire kills 93 aid seekers Mr John Ullyot, a veteran spokesperson, also left his position at the Pentagon in April, citing disarray and a sense of incompetence. The purges among Mr Hegseth's major aides fed a sense of chaos, with appointees accusing one another of disloyalty and tense shouting matches breaking out inside the building. Mr Fulcher tried to distance his departure from any sense of disorganisation or dysfunction inside Mr Hegseth's office. 'Working alongside the dedicated men and women of the Department of Defence has been incredibly inspiring,' he said in his statement. 'Revitalising the warrior ethos, rebuilding the military, and re-establishing deterrence are just some of the historic accomplishments I'm proud to have witnessed.' NYTIMES
Time of India
20-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Pete Hegseth losing control? Another Pentagon aide abruptly quits as turmoil grows, sixth exit in 6 months
A top advisor to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has left the Pentagon after six months of service, the Department of Defense (DoD) confirmed to Fox News Digital on Saturday. Justin Fulcher told Fox News Digital he formally resigned on Thursday evening, describing the decision as entirely his own. With Justin Fulcher's resignation this weekend, this is the sixth departure from the Pentagon during Hegseth's six-month tenure as Defense Secretary. Fulcher said he had originally planned to serve six months in government and, having reached that point, chose to move on 'amicably.' He also emphasized what he described as the 'great work' being done by Hegseth 'for our troops and country", reports The New York Post. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Healthcare PGDM Project Management Finance Cybersecurity Management healthcare Data Science Data Science Public Policy Digital Marketing Data Analytics Product Management Leadership Operations Management Technology Others CXO Degree Design Thinking Artificial Intelligence others MCA MBA Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis in Healthcare Financial Management & Investing Strategic Management in Healthcare Process Design & Analysis Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Program in Healthcare Management Starts on Jun 13, 2024 Get Details 'The Department of Defense is grateful to Justin Fulcher for his work on behalf of President [Donald] Trump and Secretary Hegseth. We wish him well in his future endeavors,' chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement. ALSO READ: Astronomer CEO Andy Byron's divorce bill revealed following Coldplay kiss cam controversy with HR chief Another Hegseth aide quits While three sources who spoke to CBS News said that Fulcher was 'ousted". But in a text message to The Washington Post, Fulcher claimed that his departure was 'perfectly amicable'. Fulcher was promoted to his role at the Pentagon from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency in April. Live Events Fulcher told The Post that he was thankful to Hegseth, President Donald Trump, and 'the extraordinary civilians and service members who turn vision into action every day.' 'Working alongside the dedicated men and women of the Department of Defense has been incredibly inspiring,' Fulcher added. ALSO READ: Stimulus payments worth $300 to $1,700 to be in bank accounts of Americans in days. Are you eligible and is it taxable? Fulcher said he contributed to reviews of major acquisition programs aimed at strengthening lethality and the U.S. industrial base, and helped streamline software procurement timelines "from years to months," modernizing key IT systems across the department. He also said he supported Hegseth in high-level meetings across the Indo-Pacific, including the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, and participated in efforts that redirected nearly $50 billion from non-lethal line items into readiness and more impactful defense programs. "As planned, I've completed 6 months of service in government to my country," he wrote, calling the experience "incredibly inspiring." ALSO READ: Barron Trump 'humiliated' at NYU? Professor, peers make shocking statement about US President's son Acknowledging Fulcher's departure in a text message to The Washington Post, the Pentagon spokesperson told the Post that it was "not fair" to characterize Fulcher's departure as a firing, adding that the former senior aide is a "great guy." His departure comes amid a broader reshuffling of senior personnel inside Hegseth's office. At least six aides have left since January, though defense officials have downplayed the moves as standard transitions. It's unclear what Fulcher's next step will be, though his statement suggests he intends to remain active in national security circles. The Pentagon has not yet named a replacement.
Time of India
20-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
'Incredibly inspiring': Justin Fulcher resigns after six months of service; praises Hegseth's leadership and Trump's support
Justin Fulcher (Image: X/@JustinFulcher) Justin Fulcher, a senior advisor to defence secretary Pete Hegseth has stepped down after six months of service at the Pentagon, the US department of defence (DoD) confirmed on Saturday. Fulcher announced his resignation publicly on Saturday afternoon in a post on X, writing: 'As planned, I've completed 6 months of service in government to my country.' He described the experience as 'incredibly inspiring. ' "None of this could have happened without Secretary Hegseth's decisive leadership or President Trump's continued confidence in our team," he wrote. "I will continue to champion American warfighters in all future endeavors." Fulcher has been serving as a top aide to Hegseth since April. He had officially resigned on Thursday evening describing the decision as entirely his own and said it was always his plan to serve for six months in government, as reported by Fox News. He had initially planned to serve six months in government and upon completing that period, decided to step down on good terms. Fulcher also highlighted the important work being carried out by Hegseth in support of the military and the nation. In a statement, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said, "The Department of Defense is grateful to Justin Fulcher for his work on behalf of President [Donald] Trump and Secretary Hegseth. We wish him well in his future endeavors." During his tenure at the Pentagon, Fulcher advised Secretary Hegseth on personnel and policy matters. He was also involved in several key defence initiatives. He had helped in reviewing major acquisition programs focused on increasing military strength and improving the US defence industrial base. Fulcher also worked to speed up software procurement, reducing timelines from years to months and helped modernise important IT systems across the department. He accompanied Hegseth to high-level defence meetings in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Fulcher also contributed to budget decisions that shifted nearly $50 billion from non-combat areas to programs that improve military readiness and effectiveness. He praised the dedication of DoD personnel and further cited progress in "revitalizing the warrior ethos" and "rebuilding the military". Fulcher joined the DoD earlier this year as part of Hegseth's inner circle, a group of loyal advisers appointed after Hegseth took charge of the Pentagon during Trump's second term. His resignation comes amid a broader reshuffling of staff within Hegseth's office. At least six aides have left since January, though defense officials say these are routine changes. The Pentagon has not yet announced who will replace Fulcher and his next role remains unclear. However, his statements suggest he plans to remain active in national security matters.
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First Post
20-07-2025
- Business
- First Post
Another Hegseth aide exits Pentagon, sixth top official departure in first 6 months
Another senior aide of US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth is quitting the Pentagon, making him the sixth top official to exit in Hegseth's first six months in the Department of Defence read more Another senior aide of US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth is quitting the Pentagon, making him the sixth top official to exit in Hegseth's first six months in the Department of Defence. The aide resigning this time is Justin Fulcher, who was appointed to the post in late April. In a text message to The Washington Post, Fulcher made it clear that his departure from the department is 'perfectly amicable' and that he planned all along to complete just six months of government service. In the message to the American news outlet, he said that he is 'grateful' to Hegseth and US President Donald Trump and 'to the extraordinary civilians and service members who turn vision into action every day.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Working alongside the dedicated men and women of the Department of Defence has been incredibly inspiring,' Fulcher said in his message to The Washington Post. Meanwhile, Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesman, acknowledged Fulcher's departure in a text message after CBS News first reported that Fulcher had been fired. Fulcher's tensions with the Hegseth team The Pentagon spokesperson made it clear that Fulcher was not fired, calling him a 'great guy'. The Pentagon also issued a short statement that said the Defence Department is grateful to Fulcher 'for his work on behalf of President Trump and Secretary Hegseth. We wish him well in his future endeavours.' However, the staff churn in the department has drawn scrutiny from Congress. The latest shake-up in the department came after reports emerged that ahead of his appointment in April, Fulcher — then a member of billionaire Elon Musk's US DOGE Service — stormed out of a meeting with the Pentagon's DOGE team lead, Yinon Weiss, and sought help from Hegseth's front office. As per the report, Fulcher told Hegseth and other senior officials in the secretary's office that he thought the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, an internal police and security organisation, was looking for him. This angered Hegseth, who then summoned Weiss to his office and confronted him, The Washington Post reported. Hegseth eventually brought Fulcher onto his team days later, after he fired three other senior advisers and accused them of leaking information to the media. It is pertinent to note that all three senior Pentagon officials have denied the accusation. Fast forward from this, The Guardian reported that Fulcher, Hegseth's attorney, Tim Parlatore, and Hegseth's chief of staff at the time, Joe Kasper, knew of surveillance measures that could be used to find leakers within the Pentagon. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to The Washington Post, officials said that there was speculation for days that Fulcher's departure was imminent. However, Fulcher initially maintained that he was still on the team without disclosing that he would be leaving soon. Other members of Hegseth's team who have departed in his first six months include: Dan Caldwell, Colin Carroll and Darin Selnick; the three officials fired in April; Kasper, who left his role voluntarily for a job in the private sector; and John Ullyot, who served for a few months as the Pentagon's top spokesman.
New York Post
20-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Top Hegseth aide Justin Fulcher resigns from Pentagon after 6 months of service: ‘Incredibly inspiring'
A top advisor to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has left the Pentagon after six months of service, the Department of Defense (DoD) confirmed to Fox News Digital on Saturday. Justin Fulcher told Fox News Digital he formally resigned on Thursday evening, describing the decision as entirely his own. Advertisement Fulcher said he had originally planned to serve six months in government and, having reached that point, chose to move on 'amicably.' He also emphasized what he described as the 'great work' being done by Hegseth 'for our troops and country.' 'The Department of Defense is grateful to Justin Fulcher for his work on behalf of President [Donald] Trump and Secretary Hegseth. We wish him well in his future endeavors,' chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement. In addition to advising Hegseth on personnel and policy, Fulcher played a role in several defense initiatives during his tenure, he told Fox News Digital. 3 Justin Fulcher was a top advisor to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. @JustinFulcher / X Advertisement Fulcher said he contributed to reviews of major acquisition programs aimed at strengthening lethality and the US industrial base, and helped streamline software procurement timelines 'from years to months,' modernizing key IT systems across the department. He also said he supported Hegseth in high-level meetings across the Indo-Pacific, including the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, and participated in efforts that redirected nearly $50 billion from non-lethal line items into readiness and more impactful defense programs. Fulcher praised the 'dedicated men and women of the Department of Defense,' cited progress in 'revitalizing the warrior ethos' and 'rebuilding the military,' and thanked both Hegseth and Trump for their leadership. 'Still, this is just the beginning,' Fulcher added. 3 Fulcher was part of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's inner circle. REUTERS Advertisement Fulcher, who had served as a senior advisor to Hegseth since April, announced his departure Saturday afternoon in a message posted to X. 'As planned, I've completed 6 months of service in government to my country,' he wrote, calling the experience 'incredibly inspiring.' 'None of this could have happened without Secretary Hegseth's decisive leadership or President Trump's continued confidence in our team,' he wrote. 'I will continue to champion American warfighters in all future endeavors.' Fulcher joined the DoD earlier this year as part of Hegseth's inner circle, a cohort of loyal advisers appointed after Hegseth took the helm at the Pentagon in Trump's second term. Advertisement 3 Fulcher claimed he only planned to serve six months. Jen Golbeck/SOPA Images/Shutterstock His departure comes amid a broader reshuffling of senior personnel inside Hegseth's office. At least six aides have left since January, though defense officials have downplayed the moves as standard transitions. It's unclear what Fulcher's next step will be, though his statement suggests he intends to remain active in national security circles. The Pentagon has not yet named a replacement.
