Pete Hegseth continues to serve as Secretary of Defense with President Trump’s public backing, including recent statements praising his performance amid ongoing Pentagon personnel shifts. Recent developments include the resignation of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll after clashes over senior officer removals and blocked promotions, plus criticism from Republican Senator Thom Tillis urging a replacement. These events reflect internal friction over leadership purges and readiness concerns during active operations, yet no formal steps toward Hegseth’s departure have materialized. The brief window until September 30 and sustained White House alignment drive the 95.3% “No” consensus among traders. Late developments such as a major scandal, health incident, or sudden presidential decision could still alter the outcome before the deadline.