Pete Hegseth is investigating hundreds of Pentagon employees for comments they made about the death of Charlie Kirk.

Almost 300 military members, civil workers, and contractors are suspected of mocking the fatal shooting of the conservative influencer on Sept 10, The Washington Post reported.

The Pentagon, which employs some 950,000 civilians and more than one million active-duty personnel, said staff who make fun of Kirk’s death would be sacked.

So far, the hundreds of investigations have only resulted in several disciplinary actions.

Mr Hegseth has presided over a department in turmoil since taking the reins as US defence secretary 10 months ago, clearing out members of the top brass while senior aides depart en masse.

Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesman, told The Washington Post: “Those in our ranks who rejoice at an act of domestic terrorism are unfit to serve the military people”.

Mr Parnell previously said mocking Kirk’s death was a “violation of the oath” and “dangerously incompatible with military service”.