Can Defense Department employees run for political office? No, because the Defense Department prohibits civilian employees from running for political office under the Hatch Act, a

That would require him to step down as Pentagon chief, teeing up a major leadership change, albeit one that may be welcomed by some in the Department of Defense, where Hegseth’s purported paranoia and erratic moves have rankled White House officials and alienated staffers. It has all been enough that his allies apparently staged an intervention.

Is Pete Hegseth planning to leave Pentagon? The defense secretary, who is facing string of controversies, has talked privately about running a campaign in Tennessee, a report claimed. Pentagon has reacted to the rumours and argued that the defense secretary’s focus ‘remains solely on serving under President Donald Trump' and called the report 'fake'.