Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dismissed dozens of members from key Pentagon advisory boards in a sweeping move to reshape defense policymaking.
In a memo, Hegseth addressed the widespread dismissal of former officials, industry leaders, academics and researchers in science and engineering who make up the panels responsible for advising the Defense Department.
The Pentagon needs "fresh thinking to drive bold changes," Hegseth said.
While it's common for a new administration to review advisory board memberships, the scale of Hegseth's clear-out is unprecedented, the Wall Street Journal reported.
A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed that the boards themselves are not being abolished and that new members will eventually be appointed. Hegseth also indicated that some former members could be reappointed after a case-by-case review.
Head of DOGE Elon Musk praised the "reset" as necessary on his X account, though the change is unlikely to cut costs as the advisory board roles are unpaid.
The move adds to a series of sweeping changes at the Pentagon under Hegseth, including replacing the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, removing top civilian aides and shuttering the Office of Net Assessment, an internal think tank dating back to the Nixon administration.
The Defense Science Board, the Pentagon's oldest advisory body, has been crucial in advising on technologies like artificial intelligence and the defense industrial base, while other panels support nuclear readiness assessments.
Hegseth has accused some terminated employees of providing the press with information regarding a Signal group chat in which Hegseth sent sensitive information regarding military operations to his wife, brother and personal lawyer. The story broke Monday, weeks after it was reported that a journalist was accidentally added to another Signal group chat where Hegseth sent information concerning the same operation where Houthis were targeted with airstrikes in Yemen.
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