Politics
Conservative commentators reject report claiming Pentagon secretly installed them as influencers
Writers push back after a news report tied their undisclosed government advisory roles to their public defense of the administration.
The short version
- Conservative commentators Rob Maness, Kurt Schlichter, and Thomas Anderson disputed a Washington Post report alleging the Pentagon secretly placed them in civilian roles to promote administration policies.
- The writers stated their work was limited to serving as temporary special government employees on a task force studying senior service colleges, which concluded in July 2026.
- A Washington Post reporter defended the story, noting that neither the individuals nor the Pentagon had publicly disclosed their formal government employee status while they commented on defense issues.
Key facts
- The Washington Post reported that conservative veterans Rob Maness, Kurt Schlichter, and Thomas Anderson were placed into undisclosed Pentagon civilian roles while publicly defending the administration and criticizing its detractors.[Fox News]
- The commentators stated their government service was restricted to advisory work as special government employees on a Senior Service College Task Force, which concluded on July 26, 2026.[Fox News]
- Anderson and Maness denied receiving government payment for their independent writings or social media commentary and accused the newspaper of defamation.[Fox News]
- Under Secretary Anthony Tata confirmed the task force review concluded and thanked Maness, Schlichter, and Anderson for providing recommendations.[Fox News]
- Washington Post reporter Dan Lamothe maintained the article was accurate because the individuals' special government employee status had not been disclosed during their public commentary.[Fox News]
What remains uncertain
- Whether the commentators' advisory appointments included any responsibilities beyond the completed senior service college review remains unverified beyond the differing statements.[Fox News]