Hegseth shakes up the Pentagon as US wages war - but at what cost? - BBC News

The upheaval in the military could shape the legacy of Trump's second term, writes the BBC's Tom Bateman.

Image source, Getty ImagesByTom Bateman State department correspondent, WashingtonPublished9 September 2026, 00:11 BSTThe United States military is at the centre of a fight on two fronts.

First is President Donald Trump's attempt to prise the Strait of Hormuz from Iran's grip; the latest phase of his stalemated war in the Gulf which is drawing in US forces and equipment from around the globe.

The second is a culture war at home in which Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is conducting a promised shake-up at the Pentagon, sparking bitter recriminations and a string of departures including the top civilian in charge of the US Army last week.

The upheaval has triggered questions that could shape the legacy of Trump's second term. Is the US military being stretched to a point that could risk global security? And are these shifts leaving America's extraordinary global network of alliances vulnerable?

Last Monday there was dramatic news from the Pentagon.