Defense Secretary Attends Pentagon Meetings With Wife; Senior Officials Removed

These shifts align with efforts to instill a 'warrior ethos' in the military, amid the U.S. role in the Iran war. The secretary has promoted successes in U.S. attacks while expressing concerns about potential dismissal. Experts have raised alarms about the changes.

A retired army major-general noted similarities to a conservative policy blueprint that advocated purging certain officers to create ideologically aligned forces. >"They want to create ideologically pure armed forces that will be pliant to the president and his secretary of defense and whose oath will be more to a person than to the constitution," Paul Eaton, a retired army major-general, told the Guardian.

A former Army colonel described the current Pentagon atmosphere as disarray, contrasting it with past professional tensions over policy disagreements. He highlighted fractures in cohesion among remaining leaders, who may fear speaking out. The Independent has sought comment from the Pentagon on the department's culture.

The removals include a case where the defense secretary sought to recall a retired officer to active duty and strip his rank, as reported by Fox News' Pentagon correspondent last month.

Among the ousted is the Navy Secretary, removed after disputes over complying with a court order and an 'illegal orders' video. The defense secretary has shown no regret over the changes, framing them as necessary corrections. The report indicates the secretary's isolation within the Pentagon has grown, with his actions drawing criticism.

Observers point to potential risks to military unity and adherence to constitutional oaths over personal loyalty.