Axios
Breakfast meetings, happy hours and group chats across Washington are abuzz with the same question: Who gets axed next? The big picture: The ousters this month of U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George , alongside two other service leaders, have intensified Pentagon palace intrigue. The nerves are particularly charged inside the building. Driving the news: At least 15 defense officials have abruptly left or been pushed out of their jobs under Trump 2.0. The exits, civilian and uniform, are the results of clashing politics, policies and personalities. What they're saying: "There's a lot of confusion and head-shaking," an administration official told Axios, describing the vibe this week. "It feels so much like petty, high-school or middle-school drama," the person added. "You have this pervasive, 'Oh my gosh, what is the next perceived slight that is going to upset the Mean Girls.'" Zoom in: Relations between Phelan and Hegseth deteriorated over time. Phelan's direct line to President Trump, for whom he raised millions of campaign dollars, irked Hegseth. Shipbuilding reform, a presidential priority, was also a sticking point. When asked if Phelan and Hegseth had beef, a Pentagon spokesperson referred Axios to a statement on X that laid out no specific reason for the firing. Zoom out: This infighting rages amid the Iran war. Both Navy warships and Army air defenders are under incredible pressure across the Middle East . One former senior military leader discussing the current climate noted that a political appointee or general can only be effective if they feel entrusted and empowered to use their judgement and make difficult choices. Trust is not running particularly high at the moment. What to watch: Phelan's firing reignited insider gossip about whether Hegseth might make a move against Army Secretary Dan Driscoll , with whom he has well-publicized differences. The conventional wisdom has been that Driscoll's close friendship with Vice President Vance makes him untouchable, though Phelan's personal relationship with Trump didn't save him. The ousted naval secretary was reportedly so stunned by the news that he traveled to the White House for confirmation. While there's also been recent Cabinet-level reshuffling, Hegseth's own standing within Trump world remains strong, sources say. Go deeper: The Pentagon's bunker mentality
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