Former Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot has announced that he will step down at the end of the week, Politico reports.
His resignation comes shortly after three other senior Defense Department officials were placed on administrative leave in connection with an investigation into a classified information leak.
In recent weeks, the Pentagon has found itself at the center of multiple controversies. One involved the accidental inclusion of The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief in a private Signal chat where plans for U.S. military strikes in Yemen were being discussed. Another sparked backlash after the Defense Department removed web pages related to diversity, equity, and inclusion — a move Ullyot publicly defended.
In an interview with Politico, Ullyot said he had made it clear to Defense Secretary Hegseth before the inauguration that he had no interest in taking a subordinate communications role. Attempts to agree on an alternative position reportedly failed.
Ullyot is a Marine Corps veteran and seasoned communications professional. He held senior roles in the Trump administration, including at the Department of Veterans Affairs and the White House National Security Council. He also worked on Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
