Signing you in

{"customDimensions": {"7":"Tom Boggioni","13":2677799016,"9":"","8":"msn","10":"08/31/2026","14":true,"15":true}, "post": {"id": 2677799016, "providerId": 0, "sections": [0, 560822181, 504781448, 537910665, 532450092, 502613554, 506149270, 2268954775, 2284295162, 506149276], "authors": [20272781], "tags": [], "streams": [], "split_testing": {}} } Tom BoggioniSenior EditorTom Boggioni is a writer, born, raised and living in San Diego — where he attended San Diego State University. Prior to writing for Raw Story, he wrote for FireDogLake, blogged as TBogg, and worked in banking, marketing and construction.

Jennifer Rauchet, wife of U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, speaks as U.S. President Donald Trump listens during an event to sign an executive order establishing the President's Military Spouse Commission to be chaired by Rauchet in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 3, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was raked over the coals on Monday morning over a report that his Pentagon has installed several so-called "influencers" with large online followings in government roles to prop up his faltering reputation.

According to the Washington Post, “The individuals are assigned as either ‘special government employees’ or ‘highly qualified experts,’” and questions are being raised about how much they are being paid.

During an appearance on MS NOW on Monday morning, combat veteran and former Senate candidate Amy McGrath laid into President Donald Trump’s embattled Cabinet member.

“Well, first of all, how weak and insecure do you have to be as a Secretary of Defense to bring in right-wing influencers into the Pentagon to serve as your personal cheerleaders?” she asked host Alicia Menendez.

“These are folks who the American people deserve to know why they're there. What's their role? What are their duties?” the former Marine pilot continued. “To have active-duty military members post things like this, this is just a breach of what an apolitical military does.”

“And then veterans coming in? Okay, that's fine, except the American people need to know that their taxpayer dollars are going to these social media influencers,” she added before exclaiming, “What are we doing here?”

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