In an exclusive report, US magazine Foreign Policy said that interviews with "political appointees" at the Pentagon raised concerns about a new "purge" among the ministry's employees.
And quoting - quoting three current and former American officials - that about 20 White House employees will start interviews next week with employees appointed based on political considerations in the ministry, which raises concern that the matter will be a precursor to the dismissal of more Pentagon officials who are seen as "not loyal." To President Donald Trump.
The White House liaison office sent an email to the Pentagon concerned Wednesday, inviting them to schedule a meeting with representatives from the Presidential Office for Personnel.
The letter, seen by the magazine, describes the meetings as "appropriate for non-professional officials to show their testimonies and capabilities for a position in the ministry during a possible second term for President Trump."
Management calls
The interviews, which have been described as "summonses from the administration," over a period of several weeks, will include every employee appointed according to political considerations at the Pentagon, including those who are appointed by the President or by the Senate or their subordinates.
The letter stresses that the interviews are “an opportunity for every appointee to discuss his career and interests during the year 2021 and beyond.”
Foreign Policy says that although the letter refers to "politically appointed Pentagon officials," a ministry official assured her that senior defense officials, such as Secretary Mark Esber, were not involved in participating in the interviews and that it was "not mandatory."
Informed officials also said that after the Pentagon interviews, it is expected that White House officials assigned to interview other appointees at the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security in the coming weeks.
But current and former officials who spoke to the magazine did not hide their fears that these 30-minute interviews would be used to "uproot" officials who are not considered loyal to Trump.
This fear comes especially after a number of senior appointments shook the Ministry of Defense in the recent period because of their differences with the White House regarding the suspension of military aid to Ukraine or their relations with Trump's political opponents.
"I think these expectations are correct ... either to support Trump or to leave," said a former senior official in the current administration.
Former Pentagon officials believe it is normal for the White House liaison office at the Department of Defense to "informally" investigate the political appointments.
Jim Townsend, a former ministry official who held the post of Assistant Secretary of Defense for European Affairs during Barack Obama's term, believes that it is not uncommon for a “movement” to occur at the end of any president’s term, and the first state administration often pre-determines potential changes before a term Possible seconds.
Full loyalty
"What the White House staff is looking for are not the right people with the right expertise, but loyal loyalists ... regardless of whether or not they are suitable for the position," he says.
Another former ministry official stresses, "It is normal for one to want to make an assessment of appointees and their current roles, but I've never heard of someone who has made a political test between one presidential term and another ... It is really very strange."
The magazine concludes that the Trump administration has struggled for years to provide the Pentagon and other ministries with the right personnel, especially given many of the Republican camp's disavowal from service with the Trump administration.
But even many Republicans who have been involved in working with the incumbent administration, like former Secretary of Defense James Mattis and former National Security Adviser Herbert McMaster, are soon excluded, the magazine adds.
Recent statistics indicate that the Pentagon, after two new departures this month, needs to vacate 20 vacant positions or be held by acting officials.