Conservative journalists have criticized The Washington Post following a report published on Sunday. The report suggests the Pentagon ‘secretly installed’ conservative figures to promote pro-Trump administration narratives. The article, authored by Dan Lamothe and Tara Copp, claims that former military personnel including Rob Maness, Kurt Schlichter, and Thomas Anderson were hired as civilian employees to support Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s views and counter critics of Trump’s military policies.
The report stated, ‘The Pentagon has secretly installed several conservative military veterans with large online followings in government roles, declining to disclose their assignments as they amplify Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s viewpoints and attack those scrutinizing the Trump administration, according to people familiar with the matter.’
It added that some influencers were placed in civilian roles potentially influencing policy changes.
The article’s publication led to a strong response from Maness, Schlichter, and Anderson. They accused The Washington Post of illegally using personal information to misrepresent them as government operatives. Maness, Schlichter, and Anderson clarified they served as advisors in a task force examining senior service colleges, citing their military background and commentary as the reason for their involvement. They were only compensated for their roles in this task force, which has concluded.
Thomas Anderson, under the pseudonym Cynical Publius, stated on X, ‘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. I have never received any compensation for anything I write.’
In response to the article, Rob Maness wrote, ‘The Washington Post article about me attempts to establish a false context, and defames me. It uses illegally obtained personal information. I support President Trump, Secretary Hegseth, and the Department of War because it is crucial for America’s future.’
Kurt Schlichter criticized The Washington Post through a Townhall.com column, describing the actions of the ‘regime media’ as deceitful. He noted that his name was misspelled in the original piece and emphasized his contempt for the media involved.
When approached by Fox News Digital, Dan Lamothe defended the article’s accuracy, noting that no disclosures were made about the influencers’ roles as special government employees.
The Pentagon referred to a comment by Under Secretary of War Anthony Tata, praising the task force’s work in strengthening senior service colleges.
Lindsay Kornick is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. You can send story tips to [email protected] or reach her on Twitter: @lmkornick.