New York [US], July 21: The New York Times on July 21 quoted the Pentagon's announcement that a top aide to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had resigned, the latest case among high-ranking officials leaving the agency.
The official mentioned above is Mr. Justin Fulcher who worked for the administration of US President Donald Trump at the Office of Government Efficiency (DOGE) - the federal government reform initiative headed by billionaire Elon Musk - before becoming an assistant to Minister Hegseth.
In a statement, Mr. Fulcher said he had only planned to work at the federal agency for six months.
The Washington Post previously reported on a feud between Fulcher and former DOGE employees who were transferred to the Pentagon. However, officials said that was not the cause, and insisted that Fulcher left on friendly terms.
"The Department of Defense is grateful to Justin Fulcher for his work on behalf of President Trump and Secretary Hegseth," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement.
Under Mr. Hegseth, the Defense Secretary's office - made up of the core aides who help run the department's massive apparatus - has seen unusually high turnover.
In April, two aides, Dan Caldwell and Darin Selnick, were fired and placed under investigation following leaks at the Pentagon. A US official said the investigation was focused on leaks related to military plans for the Panama Canal, the deployment of more aircraft carriers to the Red Sea, billionaire Elon Musk's visit to the Pentagon and the US halting intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
Then, Defense Department Chief of Staff Joe Kasper resigned and was transferred to another position. A veteran spokesman for the agency, John Ullyot, also left his position in April, citing turmoil and perceived incompetence.
Mr. Fulcher indicated that his resignation was not related to any disorganization or turmoil in Mr. Hegseth's office.
"Working alongside the dedicated people of the Department of Defense has been an incredibly inspiring experience. Restoring warrior morale, rebuilding our military, and reestablishing deterrence are just a few of the historic achievements I am proud to have witnessed," said Fulcher.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
