Even Pete Hegseth’s Allies Admit His Time as Defense Secretary Has Been a “Crème de la Crème of Dysfunction”

Pete Hegseth’s tenure as U.S. Secretary of Defense is facing serious turbulence—and not just from critics. Even his own allies are raising alarm bells, describing his leadership over the past six months as chaotic, scandal-prone, and increasingly unsustainable.

The former Fox News host, who took over the Pentagon’s top job earlier this year, has been at the center of multiple high-profile controversies, including “Signalgate”, where he allegedly shared classified military information—first with a journalist, then with a family group chat.

In response to the leaks, Hegseth’s office launched a crackdown that included firing staff, threatening them with prosecution, and even introducing lie detector tests—a move that was later reversed by the White House.

To make matters worse, reports claim Hegseth invited Elon Musk to a meeting where highly sensitive national security information was shared. A Republican senator has publicly labeled Hegseth’s leadership style as “amateurish,” and morale inside the Pentagon is said to be at an all-time low.

Now, according to Politico, even those close to him have described the situation as “the crème de la crème of dysfunction.” Some insiders have reportedly staged an informal intervention, urging Hegseth to course-correct while there’s still time.

Suggestions from his inner circle include mending relationships with former staffers he accused of leaking and possibly issuing a public apology to restore some credibility.

“If there’s any chance at Pete resetting and ensuring that whatever time he has left in this position is well served, he’s got to do it—otherwise Pete is just doubling down on the lie,” one source told Politico.

The phrase “whatever time he has left” is telling—raising questions about how long Hegseth will remain in his role amid mounting pressure and growing calls for accountability.

For now, the Pentagon remains in damage control mode, but with allies turning critical and new revelations likely to emerge, the future of Hegseth’s leadership looks increasingly uncertain.