US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has publicly rejected reports that the White House was preparing to remove his deputy, Steve Feinberg, calling the claims "COMPLETELY false" and describing Feinberg's leadership as "historic". The dispute matters because it points to possible friction within the Trump administration's defence leadership at a time when the Pentagon, now rebranded the Department of War, is under scrutiny over leaks and personnel upheaval, and because Hegseth's forceful public defence suggests he sees the story as a threat to his own standing as much as Feinberg's.

Reuters had reported that the White House began reviewing potential replacements for Feinberg in June, including discussions with senior senators about whether alternative candidates could secure enough support, with one source saying the review was ongoing as of late August. Feinberg, who was sworn in as deputy secretary in March 2025 and previously founded investment firm Cerberus Capital Management, denies any such effort is under way; both Hegseth and White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly issued statements dismissing the report, with Kelly citing recent military operations as evidence of the department's success. The row comes amid separate reports that the administration has introduced polygraph testing for senior military officials to root out leaks following disclosures about the Iran conflict, part of a wider crackdown under which Hegseth has blocked or removed at least 80 senior officers from promotion.