From Fox News to Pentagon chief, Hegseth faces fight for survival

Pete Hegseth, a 46-year-old former National Guard officer and Fox News co-host, is currently facing pressure to remain in his role as Pentagon chief. Despite being in his early tenure, Hegseth has weathered several controversies since taking office two years ago. Republican congressional opponent Thomas Massie introduced articles of impeachment on Monday, aiming to remove Hegseth from his position.

Hegseth has faced criticism over his aggressive approach to transforming the Defense Department, targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. He has also advocated for the removal of transgender troops from the military and has banned others from joining. Hegseth's stance on the Iran conflict has been particularly contentious, with critics accusing him of violating the War Powers Resolution, which requires congressional consultation on and oversight of U.S. military interventions.

Hegseth has defended his record, praising President Donald Trump's decisions, the military leadership, and the courage of the troops. He has described the Iran war as "courageous and historic effort," despite it being the fifth major international U.S. military intervention under his leadership. This conflict has been neither quick nor bloodless for the American side, leading to economic turmoil globally.

Hegseth's background as a combat veteran in Iraq and Afghanistan has not prepared him for the challenges of leading a large organization. He had previously faced allegations of financial mismanagement at veterans' non-profits and reports of excessive drinking, as well as accusations of sexually assaulting a woman in California. These controversies, along with other incidents, have put pressure on Hegseth's position.

Massie has called the Pentagon chief's actions "extrajudicial killings" and claimed that Hegseth has stifled independent legal review within the Defense Department. Furthermore, several senior military personnel, including the top-ranking general Charles CQ Brown, have been fired under Hegseth's leadership, often without clear explanations. Democratic lawmakers have expressed concerns about the politicization of the traditionally neutral U.S. military.

In December 2025, Hegseth stated that the Pentagon would not be distracted by democracy-building interventionism, undefined wars, regime change, climate change, woke moralizing, and feckless nation-building. He emphasized the goals of deterring war, advancing interests, and defending people. However, in January, U.S. forces seized Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife in a surprise raid in Caracas, and the U.S. and Israel launched a war against Iran, a conflict that has spread to other Middle Eastern countries. Critics argue that this war aligns with Hegseth's previously denounced military campaigns.