Overview

• A cross-branch group of career Pentagon officials finalized a letter this week urging President Trump to remove Secretary Pete Hegseth for alleged mismanagement.
• The letter accuses Hegseth of politicized managerial decisions, widespread dysfunction, poor morale and security breaches stemming from his leadership style.
• Authors, who have drafted the missive since May, debated whether to shield signatories’ identities and consulted PR advisers on timing and impact.
• Chief Department of Defense spokesman Sean Parnell dismissed the effort as mere "palace intrigue" and sensationalized media gossip.
• Hegseth retains President Trump’s backing while Inspector General investigations and congressional scrutiny over his $1 trillion budget proposal and domestic troop deployments continue.