That would require him to step down as Pentagon chief, teeing up a major leadership change, albeit one that may be welcomed by some in the Department of Defense, where Hegseth’s purported paranoia and erratic moves have rankled White House officials and alienated staffers. It has all been enough that his allies apparently staged an intervention.

Can Defense Department employees run for political office? No, because the Defense Department prohibits civilian employees from running for political office under the Hatch Act, a

Civilian employees of the Defense Department are not allowed to run for office, so Hegseth would have to resign before entering any race. The Pentagon pushed back hard at the report, which included another source saying Hegseth indicated that any exit was “off the table.