Pentagon Hires Retired Military Influencers for Civilian Roles Supporting Defense Secretary
The US Department of Defense has hired retired military officers with large social media followings for civilian roles linked to the office of Under Secretary Anthony Tata. These veterans, including Colonels Rob Maness, Kurt Schlichter, and Thomas Anderson, have publicly supported Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's policies and criticized opponents of the Trump administration. They serve as special government employees or highly qualified experts, working limited periods without disclosed duties or salaries. Pentagon officials have not commented on their specific roles or tenure.
First-hand measurement across 2 sources
We measured how 2 outlets covered this story. No outlet gave this story a measurable political slant — there is no left–right reading to report. Overall sentiment is neutral (40/100). Lens Score 55/100.
Outlets measured: ndtv, firstpost. See how each one headlined and framed the same story in the source comparison below.
AI Analysis
Sentiment was consistent across outlets (32–48/100), indicating broadly factual reporting rather than editorialising.
Coverage timeline
firstpost broke this story on 1 Sept, 04:28 am. Other outlets followed.