Overview

• White House officials privately criticized Hegseth’s refusal to dismiss his acting chief of staff, Tim Parlatore, over conflict-of-interest concerns.
• Senator Thom Tillis warned that the high turnover among senior aides represents a red flag for Pentagon stability.
• Republican lawmakers criticized his use of the unsecured Signal app to discuss classified Yemen strike plans that were later leaked.
• Operational lapses under his leadership reportedly left President Trump uninformed about a pause in Ukraine weapons deliveries.
• President Trump and Vice President Vance continue to back Hegseth publicly despite reports he has considered a Tennessee gubernatorial run.