Pete Hegseth
Running Iran strikes via Operation Midnight Hammer on nuclear sites, ordering retaliation after a Jordan attack killed two U.S. troops, mandating testosterone screenings, and creating a media-leaker task force.
Pete Hegseth is running the Pentagon across simultaneous warfighting, cultural, and alliance fronts as the Iran conflict stretches into its fifth month with no clear end.
On Iran, Hegseth directed Operation Midnight Hammer, B-2 and Tomahawk strikes on three Isfahan-area nuclear sites, after the June 17 Strait of Hormuz MOU collapsed. He ordered over 300 CENTCOM strikes including the first combat use of sea drones, framing the campaign as "Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay." After an Iranian drone and missile attack on a Jordan base killed two more U.S. service members, bringing total American deaths to 16, he launched retaliatory airstrikes on the IRGC. But his credibility is fraying: his assertion that the U.S. and Israel would hold absolute control of Iranian skies proved premature when Iran downed two American aircraft in April, and administration predictions on war duration, oil prices, and a popular uprising have all collapsed. He is also resisting sharing Iran-conflict intelligence with the broader IC while CENTCOM allegedly obstructs the investigation into the Minab school strike that killed 168 children and 14 adults, locking down an April report from Congress.
On personnel, Hegseth ordered a strict beard crackdown after spotting bearded sailors on the USS Boxer and USS Carl Vinson, mandating nondeployable flags or administrative separation for noncompliant troops. He imposed annual testosterone deficiency screenings for all active-duty members over 30, calling it a High-T Department of War. He launched a two-track review of the 2021 COVID vaccine mandate and the dismissal of 8,400-plus service members, pledging declassification by February 2027. He has repeatedly reversed discipline for favored units, personally intervening via social media to lift suspensions of South Carolina Apache pilots and backing the Blue Angels after a Pensacola flyover.
On NATO, his six-month European posture review has alienated allies. He announced withdrawal of roughly 5,000 troops from Germany after Berlin refused to join Hormuz operations, threatened to withhold alliance dues from nations below 5-percent-of-GDP spending, and pushed aggressive cuts that Rubio blocked before the Ankara summit.
On the domestic front, Hegseth created a joint Department of War-DOJ task force to prosecute media leakers, but a federal judge blocked his press-escort policy, citing his comparison of mainstream media to Pharisees as retaliatory. He faces a January 4 class-action trial over Trump's transgender-service ban. After Senate Democrats blocked the $1.15 trillion FY2027 NDAA over the war's lack of authorization, he is coordinating with House Republicans to fund the Pentagon through budget reconciliation. He is also examining military contingencies for Cuba, including a potential 101st Airborne air assault, coordinating with Trump, Rubio, and CIA Director Ratcliffe.
On their plate
Hegseth is directing the 4.5-month Iran campaign across escalating phases: Operation Midnight Hammer B-2 and Tomahawk strikes on three Isfahan-area nuclear sites, over 300 CENTCOM strikes including combat sea drones, and retaliatory airstrikes on the IRGC after an Iranian drone/missile attack on a Jordan base killed two more U.S. service members. His claim that the U.S. and Israel would have absolute control of Iranian skies proved premature after Iran downed two U.S. aircraft in April, feeding a broader credibility critique as administration predictions on war duration, oil prices, and a popular uprising all collapsed. He is also resisting sharing Iran-conflict intelligence with the broader IC while CENTCOM allegedly obstructs the Minab school strike investigation, locking down an April report from Congress.
Hegseth ordered a strict beard crackdown after spotting bearded sailors on the USS Boxer and USS Carl Vinson, tightening rules so noncompliant troops face nondeployable flags or administrative separation. He mandated annual testosterone deficiency screenings for all active-duty members over 30, framing it as building a High-T Department of War. He launched a two-track review of the 2021 COVID-19 vaccine mandate and dismissal of 8,400-plus service members, pledging declassification by February 2027. He has repeatedly reversed disciplinary actions for favored units, personally intervening via social media to lift suspensions of South Carolina Apache pilots and backing the Blue Angels after a Pensacola flyover.
Hegseth launched a six-month review of U.S. military footprint in Europe, pushing toward what one account called unhealthy co-dependence decoupling. After Germany refused to join Strait of Hormuz operations, the Pentagon announced withdrawal of roughly 5,000 troops from Germany over 6 to 12 months. Hegseth threatened to withhold alliance dues from nations failing to hit 5-percent-of-GDP defense spending ahead of the July 7-8 Ankara NATO summit. Secretary of State Rubio blocked Hegseth's more aggressive troop-cut proposal, and lawmakers added a 76,000-troop floor for Europe; NATO allies largely backfilled gaps before the summit.
Hegseth created a joint Department of War-DOJ task force to prosecute media leakers, delegating tasking authority to the Office of General Counsel with a mandatory 48-hour records-response window. A federal judge blocked his Pentagon press-escort policy on July 1, citing Hegseth's comparison of mainstream media to Pharisees as evidence of retaliatory motive; the Department is appealing. He also faces a January 4 class-action trial after a judge certified transgender troops challenging the service ban, which the D.C. Circuit had already declared unlawful June 1.
Hegseth is examining military contingencies for Cuba, including a potential 101st Airborne air assault, as part of a Trump-ordered pressure campaign. He warned Havana that procuring long-range weapons would invite a confrontation they could not stand, while dangling the prospect of friendship with Cuba's leadership. He is coordinating with Trump, Secretary Rubio on sanctions, and CIA Director Ratcliffe, who visited Havana in May.
Key relationships
Hegseth is executing Trump's directives across the Iran war, the transgender-service ban, and the Cuba pressure campaign, running Operation Midnight Hammer strikes on Iranian nuclear sites per Trump's order after the June 17 MOU collapse.
Parnell, the Pentagon spokesman, is the public voice implementing Hegseth's policies, announcing the Blue Angels discipline reversal, the Apache pilot reinstatement, and the appeal of the blocked press-escort policy.
Rubio serves as both Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, working alongside Hegseth on Taiwan arms policy and blocking his more aggressive European troop-cut proposal while co-affirming the paused $14 billion Taiwan sale does not change U.S. policy.
Duckworth is attacking Hegseth on two fronts: denouncing his testosterone-screening mandate as a double standard against the transgender-care ban and demanding a war-ending amendment to the NDAA over the Iran conflict.
Schumer led Senate Democrats in blocking the $1.15 trillion FY2027 NDAA, arguing the Iran war lacks authorization or an exit strategy, forcing Hegseth to seek an alternative funding path through House Republican budget reconciliation.
Hegseth and Miller appeared together at a D.C. National Guard ceremony praising the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force, with Miller claiming record crime reductions while a D.C. think tank disputed the effect on violent crime.
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