Former U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall accused Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of attempting to politicize the U.S. military, escalating criticism of Pentagon leadership amid a week of fresh upheaval that included Army Secretary Dan Driscoll’s resignation and growing scrutiny of senior personnel decisions.
Speaking on ABC News’ This Week on Sunday, Kendall said he had “never seen an attempt to politicize our military like the one being conducted by Pete Hegseth” and warned that the effects were being felt throughout the chain of command.
The comments come days after questions intensified about stability inside the Pentagon following Driscoll’s departure and reports that the White House had reviewed potential replacements for Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg, claims Hegseth strongly denied to Newsweek on Saturday.
Newsweek reached out to the Pentagon and White House on Sunday.
Officers Afraid to Speak
As of September 2, at least 20 generals, admirals and civilian defense leaders have been fired or departed since Hegseth became defense secretary. Among the most consequential moves have been the removal or departure of senior generals and other top military officials including Army Chief of Staff Randy George, Joint Chiefs chairman Charles Q. Brown Jr., Navy chief Lisa Franchetti, and Navy Secretary John Phelan.
Kendall, who served as Air Force secretary under former President Joe Biden, argued that Hegseth’s removal of senior officers and intervention in promotions have created anxiety among military leaders.
“He’s fired 25, roughly, senior officers. He’s pulling people off of promotion lists. And that effect is rippling all the way down through the ranks,” Kendall said Sunday.
According to Kendall, the atmosphere inside the military has become one in which officers worry about speaking candidly.
“It’s causing people to be afraid and refuse, and, in many cases, I think he’s not getting good advice because people are afraid to tell him things that he doesn’t want to hear,” he said. “Long-term serious damage is being done to our military.”
Driscoll Exit Fuels Concerns
The resignation of Driscoll, who served as Army secretary since February 2025, marks one of the most significant departures at the Pentagon since Hegseth took office. Multiple outlets including Reuters and The Wall Street Journal reported that Driscoll’s decision followed months of tension with Hegseth.
Driscoll had emerged as a powerful figure within the administration, taking on an unusually prominent role in diplomatic efforts related to the war in Ukraine and military modernization initiatives. He was also a longtime ally of Vice President JD Vance.
In a statement announcing his departure, Driscoll thanked President Donald Trump and Hegseth for the opportunity to serve. “Our Soldiers, Civilians, and their Families are our Nation’s very best, and they have inspired me every day,” he wrote Tuesday. “We could not have made the progress we did without the support of Secretary Hegseth. I am forever grateful to President Trump for the opportunity to once again serve my country.”
However, reports have linked the resignation to broader disagreements over Pentagon leadership and military personnel decisions.
Driscoll had expressed concerns about readiness and the removal of senior military officers before ultimately stepping down.
Criticism of Hegseth’s management has increasingly crossed party lines. North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican who voted to confirm Hegseth, recently urged Trump to find new leadership at the Pentagon.
“I urge the President to find a new leader at the Pentagon who will retain and empower our military talent rather than diminish it,” he wrote on X Wednesday.
Tillis praised Driscoll as “the right man at the right moment” and said he had helped lead efforts to modernize the Army, particularly as warfare evolves in places including Ukraine and Iran. But he sharply criticized Hegseth, saying the secretary was “creating a leadership void at the top of our military ranks.”
“I have never witnessed more inept management of the brave men and women who serve our country,” Tillis said, accusing Hegseth of being “intimidated by competence” and of focusing on culture-war issues rather than national defense.
Representative Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican and former Air Force brigadier general, has also criticized Hegseth and said he “would not be on my team.”
Bacon’s criticism of Hegseth’s handling of senior military personnel predates Driscoll’s resignation. After Hegseth removed George and other senior officers in April, Bacon said the defense secretary had the authority to make the changes but argued the firings were “not morally right nor wise.” He later added that “firing without cause shows lack of character.”
Supporters of Hegseth argue that a new administration has the right to replace senior leaders who do not share its priorities and that the military needs to adapt rapidly to new forms of warfare. Critics see the scale of the changes differently, arguing that repeatedly removing experienced commanders can damage morale, disrupt succession planning and deprive the Pentagon of institutional expertise.
U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall testifies during a hearing before the House Armed Services Committee on September 28, 2023, in Washington, DC.
What to Know About Hegseth’s Purge of Top Military Generals
Hegseth has overseen a sweeping reshaping of the Pentagon’s senior leadership since becoming Defense Secretary. Among the most consequential moves have been the removal or departure of senior generals and other top military officials.
Some of the most major dismissals include:
1. Charles Q. Brown Jr. — Joint Chiefs chairman
Probably the most consequential initial dismissal. Trump abruptly removed Brown in February 2025, roughly 16 months into his four-year term. Brown was only the second Black officer to serve as chairman. Hegseth said Brown was an honorable officer but “not the right man for the moment.”
2. Lisa Franchetti — Navy chief
Her removal was historic because she was the first woman to serve on the Joint Chiefs and the first woman to become chief of naval operations. She was among the senior officers Hegseth announced would be removed in February 2025.
3. David Allvin — Air Force chief
Allvin announced his retirement in 2025, well before completing his four-year term.
4. Randy George — Army chief
This is particularly significant because George was the Army’s highest-ranking officer and was asked to retire in April 2026 — during the Iran war.
5. Christopher Donahue — Army Europe/Africa commander
A highly decorated combat commander who had commanded Delta Force and played a major role in operations against ISIS. His departure came after Hegseth blocked efforts to extend his career, the Washington Post reported.
With the United States engaged in military operations and lawmakers increasingly focused on military readiness and modernization, further departures or operational problems could intensify that pressure.
Warning Before Midterms
On Sunday, Kendall also raised concerns about the political climate ahead of November’s midterm elections, arguing that military leaders have a responsibility to challenge actions they believe are improper.
“There’s an obligation on our officers, particularly our senior officers, who interact directly with the senior political leadership to tell them the truth and to stand up to them when they want to do something which is morally wrong, unethical, or illegal,” he said.
Kendall, pointing to what he described as weakened institutional checks within government, added: “As we approach the midterms, I’m worried that all of our guardrails are gone.”
When asked by host Martha Raddatz on what he would do if he were serving in Pentagon leadership today, Kendall offered a blunt response.
“I couldn’t serve this administration,” he said.
Contact Newsweek editor for this story: Anthony Murray.
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