The Pentagon is quietly vetting replacements for embattled War Secretary Pete Hegseth, whose tenure appears to be on the brink of collapse, The Intercept reported. Current and former defense officials confirmed that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is at the top of the list, while U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz is also being considered.
Hegseth’s Desperate Gambit to Survive
Hegseth is facing a bipartisan impeachment effort as soon as next week, forcing him into a frantic campaign to save his job. He unleashed a torrent of culture war rhetoric in a video posted on X, tying his fate to President Trump’s and casting himself as a besieged victim. “He literally took a bullet for this nation,” Hegseth said, employing Fox News-style tactics to rally his base. He defiantly referenced an impeachment effort led by outgoing Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., which has gained significant momentum following a Democratic midterm election landslide that handed them firm control of the House and Senate. The move was part of a coordinated campaign spearheaded by his chief Pentagon spokesperson, Sean Parnell, designed to pressure Trump into standing by him.
A “Dead Man Walking” in the Crosshairs
Behind the public spectacle, officials at the Pentagon are openly preparing for Hegseth’s exit. One official, speaking to The Intercept, bluntly assessed the situation: “Dead man walking.” This sentiment reflects the bipartisan contempt for Hegseth, who has drawn fire for a litany of failures and controversies. These include the Signal-gate messaging scandal, a purge of top military leaders, his inability to secure victory against the Houthis in 2025 or Iran in 2026, a campaign of extrajudicial killings targeting drug boats, and his obsession with troops’ testosterone levels while weakening transparency and accountability. The consensus among many officials is stark: even their most problematic potential replacements would be preferable to the current secretary.
At the War Department: We Stand. We Fight. We Defend the Republic. pic.twitter.com/Kkr0DazmCE
The Contenders: From DeSantis to Pompeo
Should Hegseth fall, the race to replace him is already underway. DeSantis leads the pack, a surprising turn after his bitter 2024 presidential primary rivalry with Trump. The Florida governor has since aligned himself with Trump’s agenda, even using the administration’s renamed “Gulf of America” in an official document. Other names circulating include former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, retired four-star Navy Adm. James Stavridis, Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, and failed Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers. Retired Adm. Stavridis, who currently serves as a partner and vice chair at the global investment firm Carlyle with deep Pentagon ties, publicly named potential successors on X. When asked about DeSantis’s standing within the Pentagon, an official offered a telling summary of the prevailing sentiment: “Anything is better than Hegseth.”
The High Cost of Hegseth’s Legacy
The impeachment effort, led by Rep. Massie and backed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., marks a rare moment in history, with the House having impeached only two Cabinet secretaries before him: William Belknap in 1876 and Alejandro Mayorkas in 2024. Hegseth’s self-styled identity as a warrior for the military, which he recently called “the most powerful, most lethal and most prepared military on the planet,” has shattered against the reality of his failures and the political backlash against his divisive tactics. As the administration braces for the fallout, the focus has shifted from if Hegseth will go to who will be tasked with cleaning up the aftermath.
Why is Pete Hegseth still around?
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STAND. FIGHT. DEFEND THE REPUBLIC. pic.twitter.com/VMLsMVDYOy
STAND. FIGHT. DEFEND THE REPUBLIC. pic.twitter.com/ZdmczrYUkM
STAND. FIGHT. DEFEND THE REPUBLIC. pic.twitter.com/HM3gwn83Sd
Under but way under by year end. https://t.co/Q2fzXHDdU0
If the administration decides to cut lose Pete Hegseth, there are some reasonable choices to come in behind him: Sen Joni Ernst, fmr Mich. Senate candidate Mike Rogers, UN Amb Mike Waltz, or Mike Pompeo come to mind. https://t.co/Zs5sKr4b75
