Ex-Air Force chief slams Hegseth's Pentagon as 'dysfunctional'

Frank Kendall III, who served as Secretary of the Air Force under Obama and Biden, called the Defense Department under Pete Hegseth 'dysfunctional' and accused the Pentagon chief of doing 'active harm' to the military. Kendall said the damage could take years or decades to repair and criticized Hegseth's emphasis on physical toughness over intellectual capital. He also referred to the Iran war as an 'absolute disaster.'

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Kendall, who observed multiple defense secretaries during his government service, said the current leadership's approach represents a departure from traditional Pentagon operations. He specifically pointed to the ongoing Iran conflict as evidence of strategic failure, suggesting the department lacks a clear exit path.

The criticism follows recent turmoil including Army Secretary Dan Driscoll's resignation. Driscoll had objected to Hegseth's removal of four officers from a promotion list, with at least six more dropped from two-star consideration. Republican Senator Thom Till