Pentagon Adviser Justin Fulcher Departs Amid Ongoing Shake-Up

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Another senior adviser has exited the Pentagon under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, marking the latest in a string of high-profile departures. Justin Fulcher, who joined the Department of Defense (DoD) earlier this year, stepped down from his position this week. Though details surrounding his exit remain mixed, it reflects the continued turnover within Hegseth’s leadership team.

Fulcher, a former official from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, was brought on in April to help revamp internal operations at the Pentagon. His role was part of a broader restructuring effort that included the addition of Patrick Weaver, Marine Colonel Ricky Buria, and Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Sean Parnell. The changes came after Hegseth dismissed three senior aides following an internal probe into unauthorized information leaks, dubbed the “Signalgate” scandal.

According to reporting from CBS News, Fulcher was “ousted,” though in a text message to The Washington Post, he insisted the departure was “perfectly amicable” and aligned with his original six-month commitment. He expressed gratitude toward Hegseth, President Donald Trump, and the men and women of the Department of Defense, calling his time at the Pentagon “incredibly inspiring.”

Fulcher’s resignation comes on the heels of a turbulent period for Hegseth’s office. In April, Deputy Chief of Staff Darin Selnick, Senior Adviser Dan Caldwell, and Colin Carroll, Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, were all terminated. Joe Kasper, Hegseth’s Chief of Staff, was reassigned to a special government role focusing on classified projects.

These sweeping personnel changes followed a series of damaging leaks involving sensitive topics such as military operations in the Red Sea, intelligence collection in Ukraine, and even the scheduling of Elon Musk’s visit to China. The leaks prompted growing concern over internal discipline and loyalty within the department. One defense official told Politico, “There is a complete meltdown in the building, and this is really reflecting on the secretary’s leadership.”

Despite the churn, the Department of Defense maintains that Fulcher’s contributions were valued. In a statement to the Daily Beast, Pentagon Spokesperson Sean Parnell said, “The Department of Defense is grateful to Justin Fulcher for his work on behalf of President Trump and Secretary Hegseth. We wish him well in his future endeavors.”

As Hegseth works to stabilize the department and root out internal issues, Fulcher’s departure is yet another reminder of the challenges facing current leadership in restoring integrity and focus within the highest levels of defense management.