Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth‘s younger brother, Phil Hegseth, is currently serving in a prominent role at the Pentagon as a Department of Homeland Security liaison and senior adviser, Hegseth’s office confirmed Thursday.
Phil Hegseth holds the title of senior adviser to the secretary for DHS and liaison officer to the Department of Defense, according to spokeswoman Kingsley Wilson. The position has afforded him high-level engagements, including meetings with a UFC champion, a visit to Guantanamo Bay, and now travel aboard the Pentagon’s 747 as he accompanies the defense secretary on his first Indo-Pacific tour, which includes stops in Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines, and Japan.
“Phil Hegseth, one of a number of talented DHS liaisons to DOD, is conducting touch points with U.S. Coast Guard officials on the Secretary’s Indo-Pacific trip,” Wilson said in a statement to The Associated Press.
This image provided by the Department of Homeland Security shows Philip Hegseth at DHS headquarters in Washington, Feb. 24, 2025. This image provided by the Department of Homeland Security shows Philip Hegseth at DHS headquarters in Washington, Feb. 24, 2025. Associated Press
Neither the Pentagon nor DHS has answered questions from the Associated Press about Phil Hegseth’s qualifications, salary, or how his hiring was handled. Newsweek has reached out to the Pentagon and DHS via email on Friday for comment.
Why It Matters
While interagency liaisons are common across the federal government, ethics experts say it is rare for such positions to be filled by close family members of Cabinet officials.
What to Know About Phil Hegseth
Phil Hegseth’s background includes founding a podcast production company, Embassy and Third, and working in social media and podcasting at the Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank. He now works closely alongside his brother, with an office just down the hall on the Pentagon’s E-Ring and a regular seat at high-level meetings, including recent sessions with international officials and celebrities like UFC champion Conor McGregor.
This is not the first time the Hegseth brothers have worked together. During Pete Hegseth’s tenure as CEO of Concerned Veterans for America, the organization paid Phil $108,000 for media consulting, according to tax records. Phil also appeared frequently alongside his brother throughout his Senate confirmation process.
Photos released by the Defense Department show Phil traveling with the defense secretary to Guantanamo Bay and now accompanying him aboard military aircraft on a trip through the Indo-Pacific. DHS confirmed that during the trip, Phil is engaging with Homeland Security Investigations and other interagency partners.
Jennifer Rauchet, third from left, and Phil Hegseth, fifth from left, listen as Pete Hegseth appears before the Senate Armed Services Committee for his confirmation hearing to be Defense Secretary, at the Capitol in Washington,… Jennifer Rauchet, third from left, and Phil Hegseth, fifth from left, listen as Pete Hegseth appears before the Senate Armed Services Committee for his confirmation hearing to be Defense Secretary, at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 14, 2025. Associated Press
What is the Federal Nepotism Law?
His role has raised questions about potential violations of the 1967 federal nepotism law, which bars officials from appointing or promoting relatives to civilian positions under their control. An internal Pentagon organizational chart obtained by the Associated Press shows Phil Hegseth reporting directly under his brother in the chain of command. However, DHS maintains that Phil is their employee, which could exempt the arrangement from violating federal hiring laws—unless it can be shown that Pete Hegseth influenced his brother’s appointment.
Legal experts told the Associated Press a deeper review would be required to determine whether the situation crosses legal lines, but it “does not pass the smell test,” according to federal employment attorney Michael Fallings.
However, Fallings said, if he is wholly employed by DHS, that “would avoid a nepotism violation, unless it can be shown that (Pete) Hegseth was involved in the hiring or had asserted his authority to help hire his brother.”
There are limited exceptions to federal nepotism laws when it comes to appointments within the president’s office. During his first term, President Donald Trump appointed his son-in-law Jared Kushner as a senior adviser. Similarly, President Bill Clinton named First Lady Hillary Clinton to lead his health care task force.
In the Biden administration, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan served in the White House while his brother, Tom Sullivan, held the role of counselor at the State Department.
Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this story.
Update: 3/28/25, 3:33 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update: 3/28/25, 4:41 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
