Conservative Journalists Respond to The Washington Post’s Pentagon Report

Conservative journalists, including Rob Maness, Kurt Schlichter, and Thomas Anderson, have criticized The Washington Post for a report published on Sunday. The article suggested that they were ‘secretly installed’ by the Pentagon to promote narratives favorable to the Trump administration. Written by journalists Dan Lamothe and Tara Copp, the report alleged that these former military personnel were employed as ‘civilian employees’ under the Pentagon. According to the Post, they supported Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and countered criticisms of the Trump administration’s military strategy.

The article 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 who scrutinize the Trump administration, according to people familiar with the matter and corroborating material.’ Furthermore, it implied that these influencers held civilian roles which might lead to shifts in policy.

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Following the publication of the article, Maness, Schlichter, and Anderson refuted its claims. They argued that the publication used illegally obtained information to falsely represent them as federal plants. Each stated that their involvement with the Department of War was limited to advisory roles in a task force examining senior service colleges based on their military experience. This task force engagement has concluded, and they were only compensated for their participation.

Anderson, using the account ‘Cynical Publius,’ stated, ‘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. At no time have I ever received any compensation of any kind from any government source for anything I write or have ever written. Those who claim otherwise defame me. I proudly and unabashedly support the efforts of President Trump and the Department of War because it’s the right thing to do.’

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Maness expressed on X, ‘The Washington Post article published about me attempts to establish a context with its subtitle that is completely fabricated, categorically false, and defames me. The article also publishes illegally obtained personally identifiable information from government data sources about me. I patriotically support the efforts of President Trump, Secretary Hegseth, and the Department of War because this is the most impactful thing to do for America’s future.’

Schlichter also voiced his disapproval in a column for Townhall.com, where he criticized The Washington Post for spreading misinformation. ‘The leftists who seized on this innuendo don’t care about the truth, and it’s irrelevant whether the regime media reporters wrote garbage on purpose or because they are grossly incompetent. This situation exemplifies why the regime media is trash,’ he wrote, also noting a misspelling of his name in the original piece.

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In response to the criticisms, Dan Lamothe, an author of the report, stated that the article was ‘accurate as written.’ He asserted that neither the journalists nor the Pentagon disclosed the involvement of special government employees in commenting on Pentagon matters.

The Washington Post, when asked for further comments, remained silent. Meanwhile, Under Secretary of War Anthony Tata posted online, stating that the Senior Service College Task Force had completed its review, highlighting efforts to improve military education standards. He thanked Maness, Schlichter, and Anderson for their participation in this initiative.

The journalists involved continue to defend their positions, while those named in the report argue they were misrepresented.

Lindsay Kornick, an associate editor for Fox News Digital, contributed to the story. Story tips can be sent to her at [email protected] or on Twitter at @lmkornick.