Pentagon Put Conservative Military Influencers on Its Civilian Payroll and Will Not Say What They Do

The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon has placed several retired officers with large social-media followings into undisclosed government roles while they amplify Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's positions and attack critics of the administration. Pentagon records showed retired Air Force Col. Rob Maness and retired Army Col. Kurt Schlichter holding active government email addresses with a ".civ" suffix, assigned to the office of Anthony Tata, the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness. Retired Army Col. Thomas Anderson was listed the same way earlier this year but not last week.

Civilian designations carry duties and disclosure obligations that outside commentators do not have, so the arrangement blurs the line between paid government service and independent commentary for audiences who cannot tell the difference. It also sits against the department's claim to be the most transparent in history.

Pentagon spokesman Joel Valdez declined to say whether the three draw taxpayer-funded salaries, what their roles are, or how long the assignments should last. Tata and the three men did not comment.