Washington D.C. — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has removed the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse, along with two other senior commanders. The Pentagon confirmed the decision on Friday but did not provide details about the reasons.
International media outlets reported that the move also included the dismissal of the Navy Reserve chief and the commander of Naval Special Warfare Command. All three were relieved of duty under Hegseth’s orders.
The reshuffle comes weeks after U.S. forces joined Israel in strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites at Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan. Using GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs, the operation was described by President Donald Trump and Secretary Hegseth as a decisive blow that had disabled Iran’s program.
But follow-up assessments suggested otherwise. Leaked intelligence reports indicated that while entrances and surface structures were damaged, Iran’s underground facilities and uranium stores were not destroyed. Analysts said the program may have been delayed for months, but not eliminated.
Satellite images released by Maxar Technologies appeared to show trucks moving equipment from the Fordow site before the attack, raising the possibility that sensitive materials had been removed in advance.
Political Fallout in Washington
The White House dismissed the leaked reports as misleading and damaging to U.S. forces, while the FBI opened an investigation into how the information reached the press. Hegseth later told NATO allies the reports were based on “weak intelligence.”
On Capitol Hill, Senate Intelligence Committee vice chair Mark Warner criticized the firings, calling them part of a “dangerous pattern” in the Trump administration. “Senior national security officials should not be treated as loyalty tests,” he said.
The Pentagon has seen repeated leadership changes this year. In February, Hegseth removed Joint Chiefs chairman General C.Q. Brown along with several admirals and generals. In April, President Trump dismissed National Security Agency director General Timothy Haugh and more than a dozen National Security Council staff. This week, the U.S. Air Force Chief announced an early retirement.
Analysts warn the latest shake-up underscores tensions between intelligence officials and political leaders over Iran policy. With Israel and Iran already locked in conflict, Washington’s internal divisions could complicate coordination with NATO allies.
Acting replacements have been appointed to oversee the affected posts while investigations continue.
