**Pete Hegseth remains actively engaged as Secretary of War (formerly Defense Secretary) in mid-October 2026, overseeing U.S. military operations against Iran, delivering a State of the Force address, announcing a 20% reduction in general and admiral positions, and unveiling initiatives on autonomous warfare and new basing.** He continues to receive public support from the Trump administration while managing ongoing deployments and personnel decisions. Speculation about post-midterm accountability has surfaced from some Democrats and a few Republicans, citing management concerns and congressional oversight risks after the November 3 elections, but no formal removal process, resignation signals, or administration actions point to departure by the November 30 deadline. The tight timeline between the midterms and month-end, combined with Hegseth’s alignment on administration priorities and lack of immediate structural or legal triggers for exit, underpins trader consensus that he will remain in the role.