Hegseth Blasts Ouster Report as GOP Backlash Grows

"The @DeptofWar has never had a better Deputy Secretary than Steve Feinberg," Hegseth wrote on X. "Stories like these are COMPLETELY false." He added: "Outside forces (i.e. companies he is pressing for results!) want Steve gone because he is so effective in advancing @POTUS' agenda. His leadership is HISTORIC."

In a statement to the Daily Mail, Hegseth said Feinberg "isn't going anywhere," called him "an incredible partner, incredible leader," credited him with working "tirelessly to rebuild our Defense Industrial Base," and said Feinberg "has my 100 percent full support, and has since Day One."

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly told Reuters: "These so-called anonymous 'sources' have no idea what they are talking about." She said President Trump "appreciates the work of Secretary Hegseth, Deputy Secretary Feinberg, and the entire Department of War," pointing to Operation Epic Fury, Operation Absolute Resolve and Operation Midnight Hammer — US military operations in Iran and Venezuela.

Trump said this week that Hegseth is doing a "fantastic job."

Other Republicans are less generous. House Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers said he was "tired of all the churn" at the department and wants "to see some stability over there." House Defense Appropriations Chairman Ken Calvert bemoaned "a number of disruptions in the department." Sen. Rand Paul has said Hegseth's handling of questions about strikes on alleged drug boats shows he is either "lying to us … or he's incompetent." Sen. Mike Rounds said last month that Democrats excluded from Pentagon briefings "need to be brought up to speed."

Rep. Pat Harrigan, a North Carolina Republican, defended Hegseth's core argument on C-SPAN's "Ceasefire" on Friday, saying politicization of the military has worsened across administrations and "Pete is right about that." But his message to the secretary was blunt: "We need stability, and we've got to get stability at all costs."