Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon: A list of controversies that define his tenure

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is under renewed pressure after Republican Senator Thom Tillis called on President Donald Trump to remove him from the cabinet, saying the Pentagon is suffering from a leadership void. The criticism follows the resignation of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and comes amid broader turmoil inside the Defense Department, including firings, forced retirements and blocked promotions among senior officers.

The article says Hegseth, confirmed in January 2025, has driven an aggressive overhaul of the military centered on “lethality” and a “warrior ethos,” but that senior officials say the approach has unsettled the Pentagon and shifted attention toward internal culture fights. Al Jazeera lists several controversies tied to his tenure, including the March 2025 Signal chat incident involving operational details, reports of a separate sensitive chat, and no formal punishment after those episodes.

The report also describes a large turnover in senior personnel, including the removal or departure of multiple top officers, and says Hegseth has blocked dozens of promotions, drawing concern about legality and diversity impacts. It further notes clashes with journalists over access and credential rules, as well as legal challenges to Pentagon press restrictions.

Al Jazeera also highlights Hegseth’s support for military strikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific and his broad claims of expanded battlefield authority, which critics say raise questions about civilian harm and the use of force. The Pentagon has also sought a record defense budget, underscoring the scale of the policy changes and disputes surrounding his leadership.