Justin Fulcher, an adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, said in a statement that he had planned to work in the federal government for only six months.

Pete Hegseth has lost his sixth senior aide in as many months, with the defence secretary’s struggle to retain key staff leaving the Pentagon in limbo.

The Pentagon continues to shed staff under Trump-appointed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, with yet another senior aide exiting his position this week. Senior staffer and adviser to Hegseth Justin Fulcher has exited his position, though the exact circumstances around his departure are unclear.