The Pentagon is experiencing significant institutional turmoil due to leadership issues and foreign conflicts. Pete Hegseth is overseeing a Pentagon with reduced senior leadership, fewer critical weapons, and less public accountability amidst the Iran war. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, a close associate of Vice President Vance, recently resigned following disagreements with Hegseth over Army leadership and modernization. His departure, after the firing of Army chief Gen. Randy George, leaves the Army without confirmed civilian or uniformed leadership during wartime. Hegseth has removed numerous senior officers across various services, fundamentally reshaping the Joint Chiefs. He has also personally intervened to remove many officers from promotion lists, an unusual action for political leadership. This depletion of senior command occurs as the Iran war strains U.S. military capabilities. Commanders in key regions have objected to extending deployments, warning of degraded readiness elsewhere. The Navy's destroyer readiness is critically low, and its Pacific carrier has been rerouted. The Iran war has significantly depleted U.S. Patriot missile interceptors, impacting NATO and U.S. warfighting capacity against potential adversaries like China. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell denies the department is in disarray, calling reports of shortages false and classified leaks a betrayal. The Pentagon has ceased formal press briefings for months, hindering public access during an active war. There are also allegations of MAGA-aligned influencers being placed in civilian roles and retaliation against journalists covering unflattering war conditions. Despite the turmoil, Hegseth has consolidated his power, and President Trump has reaffirmed his support, proposing a record defense budget.