Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly dismissed the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, along with two senior Navy commanders, according to media reports. The firings followed leaks suggesting that U.S. military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in June had only delayed the program by several months rather than eliminating it, contradicting claims by former President Donald Trump that the program was “obliterated.”
The exact reasons for the firings remain unclear, but the leaks reportedly led to a loss of confidence in Kruse, according to a Washington Post source. The dismissals come amid ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to reshape Pentagon leadership, including the removal of Gen. C.Q. Brown Jr. as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the early retirement of Gen. David Allvin as Air Force chief of, which were attributed to strategic disagreements with the administration. The administration has also revoked security clearances for dozens of officials, with some accusing the move of politicizing intelligence and allowing unauthorized leaks.
Former President Donald Trump, who previously claimed that the U.S. strikes had obliterated Iran’s nuclear program, dismissed the leaked reports as “fake news,” while Hegseth has reiterated the administration’s stance. The leaks have raised questions about the effectiveness of U.S. military operations and the reliability of intelligence within the Pentagon, potentially impacting strategic planning and military readiness.
These purges reflect broader tensions within the Trump administration, which has sought to consolidate control over the military and intelligence agencies. The removal of high-ranking officials, along with the revocation of security clearances, suggests a continued effort to align the military and intelligence community with the administration’s policies, even as it has drawn criticism for undermining institutional integrity and expertise.