John Ullyot, the Pentagon’s acting chief spokesperson, will resign by the end of the week as part of a broader shift within the Department of Defense’s senior leadership.
Ullyot, a Marine Corps veteran and former communications official under the Trump administration, had agreed to temporarily return to the role at the start of President Trump’s second term. He confirmed he will not continue in a subordinate capacity under incoming Press Secretary Sean Parnell and that efforts to identify a different position within the department were unsuccessful.
His departure coincides with a turbulent week at the Pentagon, where three senior officials—Colin Carroll, Dan Caldwell, and Darin Selnick—were placed on leave amid an internal investigation into unauthorized leaks of classified military information. While Ullyot is not connected to the investigation, his exit adds to the rapid turnover currently reshaping Pentagon leadership.
During his tenure, Ullyot oversaw high-profile communication efforts and was involved in policy messaging around military restructuring and controversial content removal from official channels. His resignation marks another significant development in the ongoing transformation of the defense department under the current administration.