Conservative journalists attacked The Washington Post for a report on Sunday suggesting they were “secretly installed” by the Pentagon to push pro-Trump administration narratives.
The article, written by Dan Lamothe and Tara Copp, suggested that former military members Rob Maness, Kurt Schlichter and Thomas Anderson were hired as “civilian employees” under the Pentagon, adding that each has supported Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and attacked critics of the Trump administration’s military strategy.
“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,” the report read.
It continued, “At least some of the influencers have been assigned to civilian roles that could lead to changes in policy, the people familiar with the matter said.”
After the article was published, Maness, Schlichter and Anderson pushed back on its implications, accusing the publication of using illegally obtained information to frame them as federal plants.
Each clarified that they were invited by the Department of War to take part as advisors in a task force studying senior service colleges through their military experience and past commentary on ways to improve the institutions. They added that they were previously compensated only for their roles in the task force, which has since concluded.
“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, under the account “Cynical Publius,” posted to X Sunday. “At no time have I ever received any compensation of any kind from any government source of any kind for anything I write or have ever written on X or in any magazine or other source. 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 wrote on X Monday, “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 and unashamedly support the efforts of President Trump, Secretary Hegseth, and the Department of War to ensure we are producing senior officers who can win our nation’s wars because it’s the most impactful thing to do for America’s future.”
Schlichter published his own article critiquing The Washington Post in his column on Townhall.com on Monday.
“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. I don’t argue with people who, through malice or ineptitude, act in bad faith unless I’m in court. But I will use this situation as a cautionary example of why the regime media is trash and why your contempt for it is so well-deserved,” Schlichter wrote, adding that the original piece misspelled his name.
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In a comment to Fox News Digital, Post journalist Dan Lamothe said the article was “accurate as written” in that neither the journalists nor the Pentagon “disclosed they were special government employees” while they were commenting on Pentagon matters.
The Washington Post did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment.
When reached for a comment, the Pentagon pointed to a comment written by Under Secretary of War Anthony Tata on X Sunday.
“Senior officers deserve the best possible education: effective, unbiased & laser-focused on our core warfighting mission. @SecWar directed a Senior Service College Task Force to conduct a comprehensive review of @DeptofWar SSCs. Its mandate: ensure these institutions are anchored in military history, strategy, high standards, meritocracy & overall excellence. That review is now complete. Special thanks to @RobManess, @KurtSchlichter & Tom Anderson for answering the call to serve on this Task Force. Led by Dr. Maurice L. Todd—ASW(R), PhD, MA, MS & top 5% West Point graduate—they delivered critical recommendations to strengthen our SSCs & prepare our military leaders to achieve peace through strength,” Tata wrote.
