Brandon Newsom, who has served as Director of Business Operations in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy for 16 years, openly bragged about subverting the Trump Administration’s policies while unknowingly speaking with the O’Keefe Media Group.
The report centers on a hidden-camera recording of a conversation between Newsom and James O’Keefe, the founder of the organization, who met with Newsom in Washington, D.C., while using a disguise that included a mustache.
According to the O’Keefe Media Group report, Newsom oversees corporate operations that support Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. These responsibilities include human resources, information technology, security, facilities, records management, and the implementation of executive orders. The outlet noted that Newsom previously worked for the Los Angeles LGBTQ Center and is not related to California Governor Gavin Newsom.
“The way I look at it is… when the election changes… I want to stay and stick it out so that when the time comes, I can undo whatever’s been done,” Newsom can be heard saying in the report. “The way I look at it is… when the election changes… I want to stay and stick it out so that when the time comes, I can undo whatever’s been done, the longtime Pentagon employee indicated that he does whatever possible.
“I don’t have the authority to do that, but I have the influence,” Newsom responded. He added that the influence stems from the position itself, saying, “It’s not about me, it’s about the position.”
O’KEEFE UNDERCOVER: Senior Pentagon Director Caught On Hidden Camera: Spills On A “Gay” Date With O’Keefe That He WILL “Undo Whatever’s Been Done [at the Pentagon]” After Trump Leaves Office To Reverse His Agenda…
“I’ve seen some things. In true D.C. nature, you don’t always… pic.twitter.com/JLkjO5ij2G
— James O’Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) July 22, 2026
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Newsom identified specific policies he would seek to change. One involved the Pentagon’s monthly voluntary Christian faith service program, which includes prayer, readings from the Bible, and sermons from pastors. He indicated that he did not think there should be “one specific prayer service” and expressed a preference for a service in which all religions are recognized.
A second area of focus was the Schedule Policy/Career workforce reform. This federal personnel change moves certain senior career employees in policy-related roles into a new category. This policy, he explained, affected him personally.
“I was converted to schedule policy, which means all of my protections as an employee have been stripped away.” He continued, “Hopefully that’s the first thing that gets undone.”
The conversation then shifted to ways Newsom and like-minded colleagues attempt to thwart the Trump Administration’s agenda. “I mean there’s a lot of things they tried to do in the very beginning that they’ve still not rolled out because you have certain people in certain positions who can slow roll things,” Newsom remarked. “I’ve seen some things. In true D.C. nature, you don’t always reveal everything in D.C.”
O’Keefe Media Group reported that it contacted both Newsom and the Department of Defense for comment prior to releasing the material. Following the release of the video, Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao indicated that the matter is being investigated.
“The Department of the Navy takes the conduct shown in this video extremely seriously. Such statements and apparent intent to leverage a position to undermine the policies and direction set by our elected leaders are inappropriate and incompatible with the standards expected of Department personnel,” the secretary said.
“Effective immediately, this individual has been placed on administrative leave while we determine next steps to ensure accountability and protect the integrity of our mission.”
