You know that feeling when you accidentally reveal your master plan to sabotage your boss, except the person listening is a hidden camera journalist wearing a novelty mustache? No? Well, Brandon Newsom does now.
Newsom, who has spent 16 years as Director of Business Operations in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy, was secretly recorded by James O'Keefe of the O'Keefe Media Group while the two met in Washington, D.C. As initially reported, O'Keefe was wearing a disguise that featured a fake mustache, which apparently was convincing enough for a senior Pentagon official. Your tax dollars at work, folks.
On the recording, Newsom can be heard laying out his grand strategy with all the subtlety of a foghorn. He said he wants to stick around through the current administration so that once the political winds shift, he can reverse everything that's been implemented. "I want to stay and stick it out so that when the time comes, I can undo whatever's been done," he stated. Bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see how it plays out.
Newsom acknowledged he lacks the authority to actually pull this off, but claimed he possesses something arguably more dangerous in Washington: influence. He clarified that it comes from the position itself rather than from him personally. So basically, the job title does the heavy lifting while he sits back and plays the long game.
His corporate operations role supports Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and covers everything from human resources to information technology to implementing executive orders. The outlet noted that Newsom previously worked for the Los Angeles LGBTQ Center and shares zero DNA with California Governor Gavin Newsom, in case anyone was wondering.
Newsom got specific about which policies bother him most. He took issue with the Pentagon's monthly voluntary Christian faith service program, suggesting it should include all religions rather than featuring one specific prayer service. He also griped about the Schedule Policy/Career workforce reform, which stripped away his employee protections. "Hopefully that's the first thing that gets undone," he said, clearly not anticipating this footage would see daylight.
Perhaps the juiciest morsel was when Newsom described how colleagues in strategic positions deliberately slow down policy implementation. "You have certain people in certain positions who can slow roll things," he explained. He also dropped this gem of Washington wisdom: "In true D.C. nature, you don't always reveal everything." Ironic words from a man who just revealed everything to a guy in a fake mustache.
The fallout was swift. Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao stated that the department considers this conduct extremely serious, calling such behavior incompatible with expected standards. Newsom was immediately placed on administrative leave while officials figure out next steps.
So to recap: a 16 year Pentagon veteran got outmaneuvered by facial hair purchased from what was probably a party supply store. Washington never disappoints.
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