Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has forcefully rejected reports suggesting the White House is considering replacing Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg. The claims, which emerged Friday, alleged that the White House had been reviewing candidates to succeed Feinberg since June, with conversations held with Senate lawmakers about potential confirmation.
Hegseth took to X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday to dismiss the allegations, stating, "The @DeptofWar has never had a better Deputy Secretary than Steve Feinberg. Stories like these are COMPLETELY false." He asserted that "outside forces" seeking Feinberg's removal are motivated by his effectiveness in advancing the current administration's agenda, describing his leadership as "historic."
Feinberg was sworn into his role as deputy secretary on March 17, 2025. As the Department of War's chief operating officer, he is responsible for the department's daily management and implementing the Secretary of War's strategic priorities. Before his tenure at the Pentagon, Feinberg founded the investment firm Cerberus Capital Management in 1992 and chaired the President's Intelligence Advisory Board from 2018 to 2021.
The Pentagon also denied the reporting in a statement to the Daily Mail. "The Deputy Secretary isn't going anywhere. Steve is an incredible partner, incredible leader, and someone I am proud to serve alongside every day," a statement attributed to Hegseth read. "He's doing a tremendous job for President Trump, for the Department, and for our warfighters. He has worked tirelessly to rebuild our Defense Industrial Base and ensure our military has everything it needs to win, and I look forward to continuing to work with him. Steve Feinberg has my 100 percent full support, and has since Day One."
The White House also issued a denial. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly told Reuters, "These so-called anonymous "sources" have no idea what they are talking about." Kelly added, "President Trump appreciates the work of Secretary Hegseth, Deputy Secretary Feinberg, and the entire Department of War, whose record of success in Operation Epic Fury, Operation Absolute Resolve, and Operation Midnight Hammer speaks for itself."
These reports emerge amidst broader efforts within the administration to curb leaks. The White House has reportedly initiated anti-leak polygraph testing for top military officials following media reports detailing classified information about the conflict in Iran. President Trump has publicly condemned such leaks as "treasonous" and has expressed support for Hegseth's handling of the situation.
Over the past several months, Hegseth has reportedly taken action against alleged leakers, influencing the promotions of at least 80 high-ranking military officials. Access for Pentagon press corps has been significantly restricted, with Hegseth not having conducted a public briefing on the war in Iran since May 5.