Pentagon Places Military Influencers in Civilian Roles, Reports Show

The Pentagon has secretly placed several military veterans with substantial online influence into civilian government roles, according to a report by The Washington Post ^[1]. These individuals, known for their conservative viewpoints, have been tasked with amplifying Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s perspectives and countering criticism of the Trump administration ^[1].

Among those identified are retired Air Force Colonel Rob Maness and retired Army Colonel Kurt Schlichter, who have been assigned to the office of Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Anthony Tata. Both have active government email addresses with a “.civ” suffix, indicating their status as civilian employees ^[1]. A third influencer, retired Army Colonel Thomas Anderson, also known by his pen name “Cynical Publius,” was previously listed with a “.civ” email but is no longer in the records ^[1].

These individuals are designated as either “special government employees” (SGEs) or “highly qualified experts” (HQEs), as per government guidelines ^[1]. Another influencer, Jennica Pounds, known as DataRepublican, disclosed her role as a special government employee since July. She previously held a credential as a journalist in the Pentagon press corps until June ^[1].

Additionally, Jerry Dunleavy, a journalist from the conservative outlet Just the News, was brought on to assist Hegseth’s team with an ongoing review of the fall of Afghanistan. This involvement was disclosed by the Pentagon in May ^[1].

What Is Known

The Pentagon’s installation of these influencers into civilian roles has been documented through official records and email addresses ^[1]. The individuals involved have significant followings on social media platforms, which they use to support Hegseth’s viewpoints ^[1].

What Remains Unclear

Details regarding whether these influencers receive taxpayer-funded salaries and the specific terms or duration of their assignments have not been disclosed ^[1]. Additionally, the precise duties and policy influence of these individuals within their Pentagon roles remain unspecified ^[1].