When Donald Trump nominated far-right MAGA loyalist Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense, many Democrats and Never Trump conservatives argued that the former Fox News weekend host was woefully unqualified for the position. And allegations that Hegseth had a history of severe alcohol abuse were a major concern. Regardless, Hegseth was narrowly confirmed by the U.S. Senate, with only three GOP senators voting against him (Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins) and Vice President JD Vance casting a tie-breaking vote. Hegseth continued to be controversial after taking over leadership of the Pentagon, and former Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot addresses that controversy in an op-ed published by Politico on April 20. READ MORE:'Path of autocracy': Ex-Trump officials condemn exec orders targeting national security experts Ullyot, who led communications at the National Security Council (NSC) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs during Trump's first presidency, resigned from the Pentagon in mid-April. In an op-ed published by the right-wing Townhall on December 23, 2024, Ullyot applaud Trump's decision to pick Hegseth and wrote, "There is no question Hegseth is well-qualified for the job." But in his Politico op-ed, almost four months later, Ullyot predicts that Hegseth's days as defense secretary are numbered. "It's been a month of total chaos at the Pentagon," Ullyot laments. "From leaks of sensitive operational plans to mass firings, the dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president — who deserves better from his senior leadership. President Donald Trump has a strong record of holding his top officials to account. Given that, it's hard to see Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remaining in his role for much longer." The former Pentagon official continues, "The latest flashpoint is a near collapse inside the Pentagon's top ranks. On Friday, Hegseth fired three of his most loyal senior staffers: senior adviser Dan Caldwell, Deputy Chief of Staff Darin Selnick and Colin Carroll, chief of staff to the deputy secretary of defense." READ MORE: 'Punish them again': Dems gear up to hammer GOP on key government program Ullyot warns that Hegseth "is now presiding over a strange and baffling purge that will leave him without his two closest advisers of over a decade — Caldwell and Selnick — and without chiefs of staff for him and his deputy." "More firings may be coming, according to rumors in the building," Ullyot writes. "In short, the building is in disarray under Hegseth’s leadership." READ MORE: A progressive Pope? Here are Francis' greatest reforms and controversies