President Donald Trump has a new problem: how to replace his defense secretary, if that is indeed his plan, while also preparing to win the hugely controversial war with Iran.
Following the Republicans’ devastating defeat in Tuesday’s midterm elections, the president is reportedly considering firing his defense secretary as public pressure piles on his administration to end the conflict as quickly as possible.
In an interview with ABC News on Thursday, November 5, the president said confirming a replacement would be easier before Democrats take control of the Senate in January — but insisted he intends to keep Hegseth in place.
“I have every intention to keep him,” the president said, adding that he is receiving calls from allies who are unhappy with his performance in the role. “I get these calls, you know, about him. I don’t understand why.”
With just two months until Republicans lose their Senate majority, the president may soon have limited options if he is forced to fire the man many see as responsible for the failure to force Tehran to concede.
The Clock Is Ticking
The Republicans currently hold 53 seats in the Senate, giving President Trump a majority that can confirm his Cabinet nominees without Democratic support—provided, of course, that enough Republicans vote in favor.
But that advantage will end when the new Congress convenes on January 3, ushering in two years of Democratic control that will likely bog the president down in investigations.
In Tuesday’s elections, the Democrats secured at least 54 Senate seats, winning historically Republican states like Texas, meaning they will have the numbers they need to block any replacement nominated by the president.
In short: the president’s Cabinet is unlikely to change significantly for the remainder of his time in office. Now is the time to choose.
Under the Senate’s confirmation procedures, the Senate must approve all Cabinet nominees by a simple majority.
A Democratic majority in the Senate would therefore reject a Trump nominee, even with the support of Senate Republicans.
If Trump wants to replace Hegseth with someone equally committed to his military policies, he will almost certainly face opposition from Democrats who have spent much of this year criticizing those very policies.
And even if Trump seeks to replace Hegseth before January, Republican senators—including outgoing senators —are not guaranteed to support whoever he nominates.
Could Trump Replace Hegseth Before January?
Should Trump change his mind, he could, in theory, replace Hegseth and nominate a replacement while Republicans still control the Senate.
However, there is no guarantee a confirmation could be completed before the end of the year.
Any nominee would still face scrutiny from the Senate Armed Services Committee before receiving a confirmation vote, and in the wake of the disastrous midterms and the ongoing war with Iran — which Hegseth’s replacement would be tasked with overseeing — Republican support cannot be taken for granted.
And consider this: Hegseth faced a difficult confirmation process in January 2025 and was confirmed only after Vice President JD Vance cast a tie-breaking vote.
Republican Senators Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Mitch McConnell opposed Hegseth.
Whoever might replace Hegseth would face similar difficulties, or perhaps an even more contentious grilling, given the stakes with Iran.
Trump Could Appoint An Acting Secretary
However, another option exists.
A Democratic Senate would not prevent the president from changing the Pentagon’s leadership entirely. Under federal law, the deputy secretary of defense may perform the duties of the secretary if that position becomes vacant.
Under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, procedures allow eligible officials to temporarily perform the responsibilities of vacant positions that require Senate confirmation.
Trump could, therefore, allow acting officials to serve — but only for 210 days following a vacancy, under law. That 210 days can be extended under certain circumstances, however.
That means the president would not necessarily need Senate approval to maintain leadership at the Pentagon.
However, he may still struggle to find somebody that the Democratic-controlled Senate would approve to assume the position until the end of his time as president.
Democrats Prepare Pentagon Investigation
To add to the president’s troubles, the Democrats are also reportedly preparing to use their new majorities in Congress to investigate the Pentagon’s conduct during the Iran war.
The investigations are likely to consider the strategy and the cost of the war so far.
And even if Hegseth leaves office, the investigations will continue.
His successor would face demands for documents and would be required to provide testimony about decisions made before taking office.
Those investigations will pose a problem for Trump, because any prospective replacement would need to consider the responsibility of managing a war that is looking difficult to bring to a close, but also the possibility of spending much of the next two years being probed by Democrats.
And who would want that job?
About the Author: Jack Buckby
Jack Buckby is a British researcher and analyst specializing in defense and national security, based in New York. His work focuses on military capability, procurement, and strategic competition, and he produces and edits analysis for policy and defense audiences. He brings extensive editorial experience, with a career output spanning over 1,000 articles at National Security Journal, and has previously authored books and papers on extremism and deradicalization.
