Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall accused Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of attempting to politicize the U.S. military, escalating criticism of Pentagon leadership amid a week of fresh upheaval that included Army Secretary Dan Driscoll's resignation and growing scrutiny of senior personnel decisions. Speaking on ABC News' This Week on Sunday, Kendall said he had "never seen an attempt to politicize our military like the one being conducted by Pete Hegseth" and warned that the effects were being felt throughout the chain of command. The comments come days after questions intensified about stability inside the Pentagon following Driscoll's departure and reports that the White House had reviewed potential replacements for Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg, claims Hegseth has strongly denied.
Newsweek reached out to the Pentagon and White House on Sunday. Kendall, who served as Air Force secretary under former President Joe Biden, argued that Hegseth's removal of senior officers and intervention in promotions have created anxiety among military leaders. "I've never seen an attempt to politicize our military like the one being conducted by Pete Hegseth," Kendall said.
"He's fired 25, roughly, senior officers. He's pulling people off of promotion lists. And that effect is rippling all the way down through the ranks." According to Kendall, the atmosphere inside the military has become one in which officers worry about speaking candidly.
"It's causing people to be afraid and refuse, and, in many cases, I think he's not getting good advice because people are afraid to tell him things that he doesn't want to hear," he said. "Long-term serious damage is being done to our military." His remarks follow months of controversy over Hegseth's reshaping of Pentagon leadership. Multiple generals, admirals and senior civilian defense officials have either been fired or departed during his tenure, including former Joint Chiefs Chairman Charles Q.
Brown Jr., Navy Chief Lisa Franchetti and Army Chief of Staff Randy George. Driscoll's resignation added to concerns about turnover at a time when the United States remains engaged in military operations against Iran. The former Army secretary's departure appears to be one of the most consequential Pentagon exits since Hegseth took office. and the Wall Street Journal reported that Driscoll's resignation followed months of friction with Hegseth, including disagreements over senior military personnel decisions.
Reports linked his departure to broader disagreements over Pentagon leadership and military personnel decisions Criticism of Hegseth's management has increasingly crossed party lines. North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican who voted to confirm Hegseth, recently urged President Donald Trump to find new leadership at the Pentagon. "I urge the President to find a new leader at the Pentagon who will retain and empower our military talent rather than diminish it," Tillis wrote on X Wednesday.
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