A 1967 federal nepotism law prohibits government officials from hiring, promoting or recommending relatives to any civilian position over which they exercise control.
AP
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s younger brother, Phil Hegseth, is serving as a senior adviser and liaison officer between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Pentagon, the defense secretary’s office confirmed. In this high-profile role, Phil has participated in meetings with a UFC champion, traveled to Guantanamo Bay, and is currently accompanying his brother on a Pentagon aircraft to the Indo-Pacific. “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,” Pentagon spokeswoman Kingsley Wilson stated. His trip includes stops in Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines, and Japan, aligning with the Biden administration’s increased focus on Indo-Pacific security.
While interagency liaisons are common in federal operations, experts say it is unusual for a close family member of a Cabinet official to hold such a senior position. “It is not common for those senior-level positions to be filled by family members of the Cabinet heads,” said Michael Fallings, a federal employment law expert. Phil Hegseth’s publicly available resume shows experience in social media and podcast production but lacks extensive government or defense experience. Previously, he worked with his brother at Concerned Veterans for America, where Pete Hegseth, as CEO, paid him $108,000 for media relations, according to federal tax records. The appointment has raised questions about nepotism within the administration.