Pentagon Recruits Conservative Influencers for Civilian Staff Roles

Records reveal that retired Air Force Colonel Rob Maness and retired Army Colonel Kurt Schlichter have been assigned to the office of undersecretary Anthony Tata, holding civilian status under the .civ email designation. Thomas Anderson, another prominent influencer on X, also held a similar position earlier this year. These appointments categorize the men as either special government employees or highly qualified experts, a status that limits their government service to 130 days within any 365-day period.

The hires align with a broader departmental push to root out what Hegseth labels ideological or woke thinking within the military. Maness, Schlichter, and Anderson participated in the Senior Service College Task Force, visiting the Army War College to audit leadership curricula. Their presence reportedly created an atmosphere of unease, with students expressing concerns about potential professional repercussions for speaking candidly. The practice has drawn scrutiny from critics like former Representative Adam Kinzinger, who questioned the use of taxpayer funds to employ influencers who continue to broadcast partisan political messaging without explicitly disclosing their government roles.