Conservative journalists attacked The Washington Post for a report on Sunday suggesting they were "secretly installed" by the Pentagon to push pro-Trump administration narratives.The article, written by Dan Lamothe and Tara Copp, suggested that former military members Rob Maness, Kurt Schlichter and Thomas Anderson were hired as "civilian employees" under the Pentagon, adding that each has supported Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and attacked critics of the Trump administration's military strategy."The Pentagon has secretly installed several conservative military veterans with large online followings in government roles, declining to disclose their assignments as they amplify Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's viewpoints and attack those who scrutinize the Trump administration, according to people familiar with the matter and corroborating material," the report read.It continued, "At least some of the influencers have been assigned to civilian roles that could lead to changes in policy, the people familiar with the matter said."HEGSETH ANNOUNCES JOINT TASK FORCE WITH DOJ TO PROSECUTE LEAKS TO JOURNALISTS 'WITH THE FULL FORCE OF THE LAW'The Washington Post reported that conservative influencers who previously served the military were under the Pentagon's payroll.(Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)After the article was published, Maness, Schlichter and Anderson pushed back on its implications, accusing the publication of using illegally obtained information to frame them as federal plants.Each clarified that they were invited by the Department of War to take part as advisors in a task force studying senior service colleges through their military experience and past commentary on ways to improve the institutions.
They added that they were previously compensated only for their roles in the task force, which has since concluded."My service with the Department of War as a 'Special Government Employee' was exclusively limited to participation in such task force a...