Pentagon Turmoil Under Hegseth Draws Bipartisan Criticism

In early-to-mid September 2026, multiple news organizations reported on internal turmoil at the U.S. Department of Defense under Secretary Pete Hegseth, occurring against the backdrop of ongoing military engagement involving Iran and reported shortfalls in missile interceptors. Reports described a climate of mistrust among top Pentagon leaders and turnover or instability within the military's command structure. Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta publicly criticized Hegseth on September 3, 2026, stating that he was "undermining the strength" of the U.S. military, particularly the Army, by creating turmoil in the command structure. The same day, Republican Senator Thom Tillis called on President Trump to replace Hegseth, accusing him of "creating a leadership void at the top of our military ranks." These statements represent documented, on-record criticism from a former senior defense official and a sitting GOP senator, both citing command instability as their central concern. As of the most recent reporting on September 14, 2026, Hegseth remained in his position, with no confirmed personnel change announced. The full scope and specific causes of the reported internal discord—including the extent to which political ambitions, culture-war priorities, or wartime management decisions contributed to the turmoil—remain disputed and were characterized differently across outlets, with some framing it as broader institutional dysfunction and others emphasizing individual leadership criticism. No official Pentagon response confirming or denying the described turmoil was included in the available reporting.