If you’re looking for a simple "yes" or "no," here is the short version: Pete Hegseth is currently the Secretary of War.
Wait, "Secretary of War?" You probably remember him being nominated for Secretary of Defense. You aren't crazy. He was sworn in as the 29th Secretary of Defense on January 25, 2025. But in a move that felt like a throwback to the 1940s, the department's name was officially changed to the Department of War on September 5, 2025.
So, Pete Hegseth is the guy running the show at the Pentagon right now. But man, the road to get there was messy. It wasn't one of those smooth, unanimous hand-off ceremonies you see in history books. It was a 51-50 nail-biter that required Vice President JD Vance to show up and break a tie.
The Wild Path to Confirmation
To understand if Pete Hegseth is the new Secretary of Defense (and how he stays there), you have to look at that January 2025 vote. It was historic for all the wrong—or right, depending on who you ask—reasons.
Most cabinet picks sail through with at least a few votes from the other side. Not this time. Every single Democrat and two Independents voted "no." Even three Republicans—Mitch McConnell, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski—jumped ship. McConnell basically said that just wanting to be a "change agent" wasn't a good enough reason to lead the world's most powerful military.
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Why the drama? It wasn't just politics. It was the "vetting from hell."
During the hearings, senators brought up everything from his tattoos—which some experts claimed had far-right ties—to a 2017 sexual assault allegation in California. Hegseth denied the assault, saying the encounter was consensual, but he did acknowledge paying a settlement. Then there were the whistleblower reports about "day drinking" and acting belligerent while he was running veterans' non-profits.
Honestly, for a few weeks there in late 2024, it looked like his nomination was dead in the water. But Trump stuck by him, and eventually, enough Republicans like Joni Ernst came around, figuring that a "warrior culture" was more important than a spotless HR file.
What Has He Actually Done in Office?
Since taking the helm, Hegseth hasn't exactly been keeping a low profile. If you thought he’d moderate his Fox News persona once he got the keys to the Pentagon, you were wrong.
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1. The War on "Woke"
He started firing people almost immediately. He made it clear that any general involved in DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives was on the chopping block. He’s obsessed with what he calls the "warrior ethos." To him, the military had become a social experiment, and he’s spent the last year trying to "un-experiment" it.
2. The Signal App Scandal
This was a big one in mid-2025. Reports came out that Hegseth was using Signal—an encrypted messaging app—to discuss military operations. The Atlantic even dropped a bombshell report claiming he shared the specific launch times of jets heading for Houthi targets in Yemen. The DOD Inspector General looked into it and basically said, "Yeah, he sent classified info on a non-secure app." Hegseth denied it was a big deal, but it caused a massive rift with the intelligence community.
3. The Venezuela "Boat Strikes"
Maybe the most controversial thing he's done happened in September 2025. Under Hegseth’s direction, the U.S. military started blowing up small civilian boats near Venezuela. The administration claimed these were drug runners and terrorists. Critics, and some pretty loud legal experts, called them war crimes—especially after reports surfaced that a second strike killed survivors of the first one.
Is He Still in the Role for 2026?
As of January 2026, Pete Hegseth is still very much in charge. Just this week, he hosted the Japanese Defense Minister, Shinjirō Koizumi, at the Pentagon. He’s also currently in a heated public feud with Senator Mark Kelly.
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Hegseth actually tried to demote Kelly (a retired Navy Captain) and pull his retirement pay because Kelly filmed a video telling troops they could refuse "illegal orders." Hegseth saw that as a direct challenge to military discipline. It’s a mess, and it’s likely going to end up in court.
What This Means for You
If you’re tracking Hegseth because you’re worried about military policy or just curious about the headlines, here’s the deal: the Pentagon is no longer the "stable" institution it used to be. It’s much more aggressive, much more political, and—if the name change to "Department of War" is any indication—much more focused on combat than "defense."
What to watch for next:
- The Audit: Hegseth is pushing for a "clean audit" by 2027. If he actually pulls that off, it would be a miracle, considering the Pentagon has failed every audit it's ever had.
- The Space Force Merger: There are rumors he wants to roll parts of the Space Force into other branches to "cut bureaucracy."
- AI Integration: He’s been obsessed with "Drone Dominance." Keep an eye on how much money is shifting from traditional carriers to autonomous systems.
Basically, Pete Hegseth is the Secretary of Defense (now War), and he’s not going anywhere unless a major legal challenge or a massive shift in the Senate happens. He’s survived scandals that would have sunk five other nominees. Love him or hate him, he’s redefined the job in his own image.
If you're following these developments, the best thing you can do is keep an eye on the Congressional Record and the Department of War's official advisories. The policy shifts are happening fast—often through memos that don't make the front page but change how the military functions on a day-to-day basis. Don't just watch the news clips; look at the actual directives coming out of the Pentagon.
Next Steps for Staying Informed:
- Follow the Senate Armed Services Committee updates for any new oversight hearings regarding the Signal app leaks.
- Monitor the US Naval Institute (USNI) for technical breakdowns of the Venezuela operations.
- Check the Federal Register for official changes to military rank and pay regulations if the Mark Kelly situation escalates.