Conservative Journalists Dispute Washington Post’s Report Alleging Pentagon Roles

Conservative journalists have criticized a report by The Washington Post, which claimed they were “secretly installed” by the Pentagon to promote narratives favorable to the Trump administration. The article, penned by Dan Lamothe and Tara Copp, suggested that former military members Rob Maness, Kurt Schlichter, and Thomas Anderson were engaged as “civilian employees” to support Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and target critics of the administration’s military policies.

“The Pentagon has secretly placed several conservative military veterans with significant online followings in government positions. These roles bolster Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s views and counter those critical of the Trump administration,” stated the report, citing anonymous sources and corroborative evidence.

It further mentioned that some influencers were positioned in civilian roles potentially impacting policy, according to sources.

Following its publication, Maness, Schlichter, and Anderson denied the article’s implications, asserting that The Washington Post used illegally obtained information to portray them as federal operatives. They clarified their participation as advisors in a task force studying senior service colleges, emphasizing their contributions were purely advisory and previously compensated only during task force activities, which have since ended.

My service with the Department of War as a ‘Special Government Employee’ was exclusively limited to participation in such task force and ended on July 26, 2026,” Anderson shared via social media, stating he never received government compensation for his writings and supporting Trump and the Department of War was a personal decision.

Maness criticized the article for publishing fabricated information and illegally obtained personal data. He expressed unwavering support for Trump, Hegseth, and the Department of War, emphasizing the importance of producing competent senior officers.

Schlichter responded with his own article on Townhall.com, dismissing the report’s implications. He criticized the media’s credibility, and noted that his name was misspelled in the original report.

Post journalist Dan Lamothe stood by the article’s accuracy, asserting that neither the journalists nor the Pentagon disclosed the journalists’ roles as special government employees during their commentary on Pentagon matters.

The Pentagon referenced a comment by Under Secretary of War Anthony Tata, affirming the report’s review of senior service colleges and thanking the task force for their contributions.