Pete Hegseth Lashes Out Over ‘COMPLETELY False’ Report Candidates Are Being Eyed To Replace Yet Another Pentagon Leader

UNITED STATES – MAY 12: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testifies during the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing titled “A Review of the President’s FY2027 Budget Request for the Department of Defense,” in Dirksen building on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via AP Images)

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth lashed out over a media report suggesting the White House is reviewing candidates to replace the deputy secretary of the Pentagon — calling it “COMPLETELY false.”

Hegseth took to X on Saturday to declare that the Department of Defense has “never had a better” deputy secretary than Steve Feinberg, in response to an exclusive report from Reuters.

“The [Department of Defense] has never had a better Deputy Secretary than Steve Feinberg,” Hegseth wrote. “Stories like these are COMPLETELY false. Outside forces (i.e. companies he is pressing for results!) want Steve gone because he is so effective in advancing [President Donald Trump’s] agenda. His leadership is HISTORIC.”

Reuters cited three people familiar with discussions when they reported on Friday that the White House has interviewed potential replacements for Feinberg.

If Feinberg were replaced, he would be just the latest in what has been described as a purge at the Pentagon under Hegseth.

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned from his position this week after reported tensions with Hegseth. Others like Army Chief of Staff Randy George, former head of US Army Europe and Africa Gen. Christopher Donahue, and former commander of US Army Transformation and Training Command Gen. David Hodne have also seen themselves ousted from their positions.

Politico dropped a report this week in which sources inside the Pentagon expressed concerns about Hegseth’s focus on social and cultural issues and the “turbulence” high turnover in leadership is causing.

“Driscoll kept trying to change how quickly the Army could learn, experiment, and buy. Hegseth kept returning to what soldiers look like, how they behave, and who gets to lead them,” one defense official said.

Sean Parnell, the assistant to the Secretary of Defense for public affairs, pushed back on those claims of “turbulence,” calling Hegseth a “transformative leader” who is slashing bureaucracy.

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!