MS NOW report reveals Hegseth forced two officers into early retirement for questioning his command directives

An MS NOW investigation published on July 24, 2026 found that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth forced two former military officers into early retirement after they questioned his command decisions, with the officers telling MS NOW they were pushed out specifically because Hegseth interpreted their professional concerns as insubordination. The two officers, both anonymous due to fears that the Pentagon would retaliate by stripping their retirement pensions, said Hegseth "is intimidated by people who have real warfighting background and don't just talk about the warrior ethos." The Pentagon denied the claims, calling them "completely false."

The disclosures came as Hegseth had fired or sidelined nearly three dozen general officers and admirals over the course of his tenure and blocked the promotion of 40 senior colonels or Navy captains selected for flag rank — a pace widely described as unprecedented. Among those pushed out was Gen. Christopher Donahue, the top Army commander for Europe and Africa and a former Delta Force commander who led the last U.S. troops out of Afghanistan. Critics noted that Hegseth's targets have disproportionately included women, people of color, judge advocates general, and officers associated with events Hegseth considers mishandled. The officers' accounts added a specific allegation — that Hegseth was purging officers not for performance or conduct but for raising professional questions — that a Pentagon spokesperson called false.