In just six months, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has lost six top advisors. That’s not turnover—it’s an exodus. And while most coverage has focused on the endless chaos in his front office, the real story lies deeper: Hegseth isn’t a victim of dysfunction. He’s the cause.

The latest departure is Justin Fulcher, a 32-year-old official who abruptly left his post last week amid swirling confusion. CBS initially reported Fulcher had been fired, but Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell downplayed the event, saying only that Fulcher’s exit was “acknowledged.” There was no press release, no ceremonial goodbye. Fulcher himself called it “perfectly amiable.” In Trump-era language, that usually means “deeply embarrassing.”

This wasn’t just another chaotic episode in a combustible workplace. It was a symptom of the deeper rot in Hegseth’s leadership style—a mix of impulsive hiring, aggressive loyalty tests, and a complete lack of accountability.

A Pentagon soap opera

The Fulcher fiasco is only the latest in a string of increasingly absurd and troubling scandals within the Department of Defense under Hegseth’s leadership.

Earlier this year, the so-called “Signal-gate” rocked national security circles when National Security Advisor Mike Waltz mistakenly looped in The Atlantic’s editor, Jeffrey Goldberg, into an unsecured Signal chat about real-time U.S. airstrikes on Yemen. A second Signal group was later revealed, this one including Hegseth’s wife, brother, and even his divorce lawyer—discussing the same sensitive military operations.

Then came the Panama Canal leaks. Three Hegseth loyalists were suspended and later fired for allegedly leaking military planning documents. They claimed scapegoating—and had a point. Reports later revealed that Hegseth’s own divorce lawyer had circulated a bizarre theory that prompted the firings, with no concrete evidence.

At one point, Hegseth’s third wife was seen crashing high-level Pentagon meetings with foreign officials. His first chief of staff was quietly reassigned, his top spokesman quit citing a “meltdown,” and rumors of screaming matches behind closed doors became commonplace.

The Defense Department, once known for its iron discipline, began to look more like a reality TV set.

The Fulcher fraud

The most alarming part of Fulcher’s exit might not be how he left—but how he got in.

According to multiple sources, Fulcher claimed a résumé that included dropping out of college, founding a successful telehealth startup, and holding a PhD from Johns Hopkins’ prestigious School of Advanced International Studies. That PhD never existed. The startup? Barely functional. Security clearance? Questionable at best.

It’s a résumé more fit for a George Santos impersonator than a senior Pentagon official. But under Hegseth, credential vetting seems to come second to sycophancy.

A meltdown in April

The seeds of Fulcher’s exit were planted in April, during a Department of Government Efficiency meeting. Fulcher reportedly stormed out after wrongly believing a colleague, Yinon Weiss, had reported him to the Pentagon police. In reality, Weiss had contacted the transition office.

Instead of checking the facts, Hegseth backed Fulcher’s claim and berated Weiss in front of other staff—a flash of temper from a man already known for anger issues.

It was a textbook case of failed leadership: impulsive, misinformed, and aggressive. And it sent a chilling message to anyone at the Pentagon unwilling to play palace politics.

Untouchable—or just insulated?

So why is Hegseth still in charge?

He’s lasted longer than many expected, possibly because he plays a unique role in Trump’s second term: a telegenic, camera-ready culture warrior. With his military credentials, Fox News fanbase, and combative style, Hegseth serves as the face of Trump’s “America First” defense policy.

He is, in effect, Trump’s fantasy alter ego—equal parts soldier, showman, and political pit bull. But his leadership style mirrors Trump’s worst instincts: unchecked ego, loyalty over competence, and a baffling ability to fail upward.

What comes next?

There are rumors Hegseth may soon exit the Pentagon voluntarily. He’s reportedly weighing a run for governor of Tennessee. Other whispers say he could land at a defense contractor—or in a Fox News anchor chair. There’s even been talk of a stint on Dancing with the Stars.

But the real issue is not what he’ll do next—it’s what damage he’ll leave behind. The Pentagon is not a playground for political cosplay. It’s the institution charged with the defense of the nation. And it’s becoming increasingly clear that under Pete Hegseth, it is anything but secure.

The cost of chaos

The final irony? Whistleblowers—those who tried to expose injustice at the Pentagon—have been punished more harshly than Hegseth ever has.

Daniel Hale, imprisoned for revealing civilian casualties from drone strikes. John Kiriakou, jailed for exposing torture. Meanwhile, Hegseth yells at staff, leaks to his lawyer, and elevates frauds—and still has a job.

He may survive this storm, as he has others. But the troops he commands do not have nine lives.