If you’ve been scrolling through social media lately, you’ve probably seen the rumors flying around. People are asking: has Pete Hegseth resigned? It’s a fair question. The Pentagon hasn’t exactly been a quiet place lately. Between the shouting matches on Capitol Hill and the legal drama with sitting senators, things are, well, a bit chaotic.
But let’s get the big answer out of the way first. No. As of mid-January 2026, Pete Hegseth has not resigned. He is still the Secretary of War—a title he personally pushed for after the Department of Defense was renamed back in September 2025.
He’s still there. He’s still making moves. And honestly, he’s currently in the middle of one of the biggest political street fights we’ve seen in years.
The Current Drama: Hegseth vs. Mark Kelly
You can't talk about Hegseth right now without talking about Senator Mark Kelly. This is where most of the "resignation" rumors are likely coming from because the tension is at a literal boiling point. On January 5, 2026, Hegseth did something pretty much unheard of: he issued a formal censure to Kelly.
Why? It goes back to a video Kelly made with five other veteran lawmakers. In that clip, they told troops they have a "legal obligation" to refuse unlawful orders. Hegseth didn't just disagree; he went nuclear. He called the video "seditious" and "treasonous."
But here is the kicker. Hegseth didn't just write a mean letter. He’s trying to strip Kelly—a retired Navy Captain—of his rank and his pension. Kelly sued him on January 12, 2026. When a sitting U.S. Senator sues the Secretary of Defense to protect his military retirement, people start wondering if someone is about to get fired or quit.
So far, though, Hegseth is doubling down. He’s not backing away from the podium.
Why People Keep Expecting Him to Quit
Look, Hegseth has been on thin ice with his critics since day one. He only got the job because Vice President JD Vance broke a 50-50 tie in the Senate back in January 2025. He didn't have a broad mandate. He had a razor-thin margin.
Ever since he took the helm, the "resignation" watch has been a permanent fixture of Washington D.C. reporting. There are three big reasons why the rumors never actually die:
- The Signal Chat Scandal: Early on, reports surfaced that Hegseth was discussing military operations over Signal, an encrypted messaging app. The Defense Department Inspector General even filed a report saying this could have put troops in danger.
- Caribbean "Illegal" Strikes: There was a massive outcry over reports that Hegseth authorized a "second strike" on a vessel in the Caribbean Sea to kill survivors of an initial attack. Congressman John Larson recently called for his immediate resignation over this, calling it "the last straw."
- Media Blackouts: He basically kicked credentialed press out of the Pentagon. Just this week, his team announced they are "revamping" Stars and Stripes to remove what they call "woke distractions."
When you add all that up, you get a lot of people—mostly Democrats but even some Republicans like Mitch McConnell and Lisa Murkowski—who would love to see a resignation letter. But wanting it and getting it are two different things.
Is Trump Still Backing Him?
In this administration, everything comes down to the President. Donald Trump has a history of sticking by his "fighters" until the very last second. Right now, Hegseth is the ultimate "change agent" for the Trump agenda.
He is overseeing the "Federal Invasion" (as Minnesota's AG calls it) where ICE agents and military resources are being used for domestic immigration enforcement. He's also the guy preparing for potential strikes on Iran.
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As long as he’s doing exactly what the White House wants, a resignation is unlikely. Trump even praised him recently during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, standing right next to him after military actions in Venezuela.
The Reality of the "Secretary of War"
It’s easy to get lost in the headlines. Kinda crazy, right? The guy went from a Fox News weekend set to running the world’s most powerful military. He’s been focused on "warfighter culture" and purging Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs.
While the "has Pete Hegseth resigned" searches spike every time there’s a new lawsuit or a protest in Minneapolis, the actual paper trail says he’s digging in. He’s currently hosting foreign dignitaries—like the Japanese Defense Minister—and moving forward with plans to modernize the force with AI and drones.
Basically, he’s behaving like a man who expects to be in the job for the long haul.
What to Watch Next
If you’re looking for signs that things might change, keep your eyes on the courtrooms, not the headlines.
- The Mark Kelly Lawsuit: If a judge grants the temporary restraining order Kelly requested, it could humiliate Hegseth and signal that his "authority" over retired officers has limits.
- Senate Defections: Watch Republicans like Thom Tillis or Joni Ernst. If they start joining the calls for resignation, the math in the Senate changes, and the White House might decide he’s too much of a liability for the 2026 midterms.
- The Caribbean Investigation: If the "illegal second strike" reports turn into a formal war crimes inquiry, that’s a different ballgame.
For now, the rumors of his departure are just that—rumors. Pete Hegseth is still at the Pentagon, still fighting with the media, and still very much in charge of the Department of War.
If you're following this closely, the best thing to do is monitor the official Department of War press advisories. They usually list his daily schedule, which is the quickest way to verify if he’s still active. You should also keep an eye on the "Democracy Docket" for updates on the Mark Kelly lawsuit, as that legal battle will likely define the next few months of Hegseth’s tenure.
Actionable Insight: To get the most accurate updates, ignore the viral "breaking news" tweets and check the official congressional records for any new resolutions or the U.S. District Court filings for the Kelly v. Hegseth case. These legal documents provide the ground truth that partisan news outlets often skip.