'Total chaos': Hegseth's unsettled Pentagon starts turning against him

Mr Pete Hegseth wanted to make waves at the Pentagon. But less than 90 days after being sworn in as US Defence Secretary, he appears put off balance by the very turbulence he created.

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WASHINGTON -

Mr Hegseth on April 21 accused his former trusted advisers of turning against him following revelations that he texted sensitive US military strike plans from his personal phone to his wife, brother, attorney and others.

"What a big surprise that a few leakers get fired and a bunch of hit pieces come out," Mr Hegseth said on the White House lawn, his children standing behind him, during an Easter celebration.

The White House saw a conspiracy against Mr Hegseth stretching far beyond the small cadre of his once-loyal aides, who were fired after accusations that they leaked sensitive information, to include the Department of Defence itself.

The former Fox News host has moved with stunning speed to reshape the department, firing top generals and admirals as he seeks to implement President Donald Trump's national security agenda and root out diversity initiatives that he says are discriminatory.

"This is what happens when the entire Pentagon is working against you and working against the monumental change that you are trying to implement," said White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.

So far, Mr Trump is standing firmly by Mr Hegseth, saying he is "doing a great job".

"He was put there to rid of a lot of bad people, and that is what he is doing," Mr Trump told reporters.