# Pete Hegseth's Unseen Power

> U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reshapes Trump administration's military strategy despite early doubts.
- Title: Pete Hegseth's Unseen Power · Foreign Policy | Shortify
- Summary: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reshapes Trump administration's military strategy despite early doubts. Pete Hegseth became the most influential senior…
- Keywords: pete hegseth, trump administration, u.s. military, defense secretary, military culture, policy shifts, iraq war, war in iran, military recruitment, physical fitness standards, diversity initiatives, fox news
- Source: Foreign Policy — https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/09/30/pete-hegseth-trump-influential-official
- Author: Emma Ashford
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: pete hegseth, trump administration, u.s. military, defense secretary, military culture, policy shifts, iraq war, war in iran, military recruitment, physical fitness standards, diversity initiatives, fox news
## Pete Hegseth's rise
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth became the most influential senior official in the Trump administration.

> the secretary of defense is now the most influential senior official in the trump administration
## Early predictions
Most analysts predicted Hegseth would be an ineffective or empty suit in the Trump administration.

> many assumed he’d simply be an empty suit
## Hegseth's background
Hegseth had a military background as a junior officer but no Pentagon experience.

> he had a military background, but only as a junior officer
## Fox News connection
Hegseth's primary qualification for the defense secretary role was his extended stint as a host of Fox and Friends.

> in trump’s eyes, his primary qualification for the job was his extended stint as a host of fox and friends
## Early struggles
Hegseth fired senior defense officials over leaks and faced criticism for his leadership style.

> he fired several senior defense officials, accusing them of leaking sensitive information
## Internal culture war
Hegseth led a campaign to block military leaders benefiting from diversity programs.

> he has intervened directly to block military leaders that he felt were the beneficiaries of such programs
## Promotion purges
Hegseth blocked promotions of 10 percent of the military’s top officers.

> he has either fired or blocked the promotions of around 10 percent of the military’s top officers
## Iran war influence
Hegseth persuaded Trump that the Iran war would be quick, sharp, and decisive.

> he has been instrumental in persuading the president that this war would be quick, sharp, and decisive
## Rules of engagement
Hegseth loosened military rules of engagement to reduce concerns about collateral damage.

> there should be no stupid rules of engagement and no politically correct wars
## Military culture shifts
Hegseth pushed to bar transgender troops from serving and questioned female soldiers in combat.

> he has attempted to bar transgender troops from serving and openly questioned whether female soldiers should be permitted in combat
## State of the Force
Hegseth's State of the Force speech will highlight military changes to physical fitness and grooming standards.

> his state of the force speech will offer him another opportunity to highlight the drastic changes he has made in how the american military approaches recruiting, training, and even combat
## Trump's connection
Trump sees himself in Hegseth's culture war posturing and media challenges.

> trump sees himself in hegseth
## Long-term costs
Hegseth's policies weaken U.S. military readiness and strategic posture long-term.

> his disastrous war against iran has already left the u.s. poorer and our defense posture in asia and elsewhere weaker
## Current influence
Despite early dismissal, Hegseth remains the most influential official in Trump's administration.

> he remains ascendant
## Key takeaway

Pete Hegseth became the most influential senior official in Trump's administration by reshaping military culture and policy, despite initial dismissal as a 'drunken buffoon'.