Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has faced intense scrutiny of his Pentagon leadership, with some of the criticism coming from within his own party.
On Wednesday, Republican Sen. Thom Tillis called on President Donald Trump to replace Hegseth, accusing him of creating a “leadership vacuum” at the top of the U.S. military.
Recommended stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
“I have never seen such mismanagement of the brave men and women who serve our country,” Tillis said. “He’s scared of his abilities.”
Mr. Tillis’ comments came after Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, the latest senior official to leave the Pentagon, resigned on Monday amid reports of tension with Mr. Hegseth.
Driscoll’s resignation follows a wave of firings, forced retirements, and blocked promotions among military leaders, raising concerns about the stability of the Pentagon’s leadership.
Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Army National Guard veteran, was confirmed as defense secretary in January 2025 after a controversial Senate vote.
Since taking office, he has pursued aggressive efforts to reorganize the military, emphasizing lethality and what he calls a “warrior spirit.” But senior officials say his approach has created instability and prioritized cultural warfare over military preparedness.
His tenure has also been plagued by a series of controversies. Here are some of the notable ones so far.
“Signal Gate”
The first major controversy of Hegseth’s tenure occurred in March 2025, just two months after taking office.
A member of the Trump administration mistakenly included Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, in a private chat on the messaging app Signal where officials were discussing the impending attack on Yemen.
Hegseth featured prominently in the discussion. His message included details about the launch of the aircraft and the timing of the attack.
But Hegseth insisted that no “war plans” were shared across the platform. However, experts disputed this claim, pointing out that details of future military operations are typically classified.
The military prohibits the use of third-party platforms for operational security, and a subsequent inspector general’s report found that leaks from Signal chat could pose a risk to service members.
Media reports also indicated that Hegseth was involved in a second Signal chat with his wife, brother, and personal lawyer, which also contained classified military information.
Hegseth was never formally punished for the incident.
Outflow of human resources
Hegseth’s Department of Defense experienced significant turnover in military and civilian officials.
Shortly after Hegseth took the job, several military leaders were fired, including Admiral Lisa Franchetti, Coast Guard Commander Linda Fagan, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Commander Charles Q. Brown.
Both Fagan and Franchetti were the first women to serve in the roles. In a statement explaining Fagan’s firing, the Trump administration cited a “lack of leadership” and an “excessive focus” on diversity.
Other officials retired or chose early retirement. These include figures like Admiral Alvin Holsey, who came under criticism for participating in military boat attack operations in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific under the Hegseth administration.
The departure will last until 2026, with Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll resigning on Wednesday.
Hegseth has taken steps to remove dozens of names from top military promotion lists, an unusual move for a Pentagon chief.
Candidates are usually selected for top leadership positions by selection committees from various branches of the military. This process is considered apolitical.
However, Hegseth reportedly removed as many as 80 names from the promotion list for military leaders, including those expected to be promoted to one- or two-star generals.
Critics have questioned whether Mr. Hegseth has the power to block the promotion. Many also point out that women and black officers are disproportionately represented among officers denied promotions to top ranks.
attack on freedom of the press
Under Hegseth, the Pentagon has developed an increasingly hostile relationship with journalists.
The department has restricted reporters’ access to the Pentagon press office, and in September 2025 announced a new policy requiring journalists to sign a pledge restricting coverage or have their media credentials revoked.
The policy was blocked in March, when a district court ruled it violated First Amendment free speech protections.
However, additional incidents continue to raise concerns about press freedom in the Pentagon. Last month, three members of the Stars and Stripes newspaper filed a lawsuit against the Pentagon for censorship after they were fired for speaking out about editorial independence.
Meanwhile, Mr Hegseth publicly attacked the media, calling some reports “unpatriotic”.
War strategy of “maximum lethality”
Hegseth has made “lethality” a central tenet of the U.S. military, a philosophy that has come under scrutiny during military operations overseas.
He also promised to scrap what he called “stupid rules of engagement” that limit legitimate military action.
Since September 2, 2025, the US military has carried out a series of boat attacks in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific Ocean in the name of protecting the United States from “narco-terrorists.”
However, the identities of those killed remain largely a mystery, and no official evidence has been presented against them. Legal experts have described the campaign as a series of extrajudicial killings in which the victims were denied a chance to defend themselves.
Some families in Colombia, Trinidad, Ecuador and elsewhere fear those killed may have been innocent fishermen. So far, the death toll from boat strike operations has reached 227 people, with the latest strike taking place in August.
In at least one case, Hegseth reportedly ordered a “double tap” attack to kill survivors of the initial boat attack.
But Hegseth denied any wrongdoing and labeled the “Double Tap” report “fabricated, inflammatory and derogatory reporting.”
He also claimed the deadly boat attack was a revision of policies under the administration of Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden. “Biden coddled terrorists, we will kill them,” Hegseth wrote.
Since February, the United States has also been embroiled in a war with Iran, raising concerns about similar use of force. Mr. Hegseth has boasted of freeing up U.S. forces to exercise “maximum battlefield authority” against Iran, a comment generally understood to mean a relaxation of the rules of engagement aimed at protecting civilians.
The comments drew criticism after a U.S. Tomahawk missile struck an Iranian elementary school on the first day of the war, killing an estimated 170 people, most of them children.
Iranian officials this week accused the United States of attacking a civilian wedding in the city of Khestak, killing at least five people and injuring more than 60 others.
Questions regarding the use of military resources
Under the Hegseth administration, the Pentagon asked Congress for a record $1.5 trillion in defense spending for fiscal year 2027. Much of the proposal comes in the form of discretionary funding.
The Department of Defense characterizes this amount as a “generational investment.” But critics say the military is effectively asking for a blank check without taking into account the 42% increase in the budget.
The Quincy Institute for Responsible States, a think tank, went so far as to say that the amount is “not changing.”
Some of that amount is likely intended to offset the costs of the U.S. and Israel’s war against Iran.
In July, Hegseth testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee that $37.5 billion has been spent on the war so far. This amount is higher than the $25 billion estimate the Pentagon gave in April.
There are also reports of shortages in certain U.S. military stockpiles, raising concerns about the U.S. strategy against Iran and its ability to defend against other threats.
Compliance with international law
Under Mr. Hegseth and Mr. Trump, the U.S. military launched several military operations that appear to violate international law.
For example, on January 3, the US military began an operation to abduct Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and transport him to New York to stand trial.
The Trump administration has billed the operation as a domestic law enforcement operation, but critics have branded it a violation of foreign sovereignty.
The United States and Israel also launched the first strikes to start the ongoing war with Iran. Although the Trump administration maintains that Iran poses an imminent threat, prominent legal experts have called the conflict an unprovoked war of choice.
As the war enters its seventh month, Hegseth faces criticism for not having a clear exit strategy. The conflict is contributing not only to soaring oil prices but also to instability and violence across the Middle East.
culture war within the military
Hegseth rejected what he called a “wokeness” in the U.S. military.
During his tenure, policies designed or perceived to promote diversity in the ranks were rolled back. He has also overseen the expulsion of transgender service members from the military at the behest of President Trump.
Hegseth also embraces a return to more traditional notions of masculinity. These include plans to test soldiers over 30 for testosterone under the slogan “No More Beardos” and new grooming standards.
Hegseth has also come under harsh criticism for blurring the separation of church and state. He is known for regularly leading Christian prayer services at the Pentagon and frames some of the military’s actions in religious terms.
