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.

NBC News has reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is considering a run for Tennessee governor in 2026. Hegseth, a resident of Tennessee, would have to resign from his current position to run for political office. Hegseth has faced controversy for sharing classified information and his stance on women in the military.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has privately discussed the idea of running for political office next year in Tennessee, according to two people who have spoken directly with him about it.