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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces criticism for military leadership decisions and personnel management during the Iran war.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has faced scrutiny regarding his management of the Department of Defense and the ongoing war in Iran. While the administration announced that both Secretary Hegseth and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent remain heavily involved in the conflict, reports indicate that President Trump is increasingly relying on Bessent's economic sanctions to address the Iranian regime. Secretary Hegseth has also faced criticism for his personnel decisions, specifically for blocking the promotions of several Army officers. These actions have been described as potentially violating the rules of a merit-based promotion system. Additionally, the administration has secretly installed several conservative military veterans with large online followings into government roles to amplify Hegseth's viewpoints. Despite his continued role, Hegseth has received formal pushback from several U.S. military leaders regarding his vision to keep U.S. troops deployed in the Middle East into 2027. While Hegseth continues to oversee the defense department, the administration noted that both secretaries have equal footing with President Trump.

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