WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has privately discussed the idea of running for political office next year in Tennessee, according to two people who have spoken directly with him about it.

If Hegseth were to follow through on the discussions, it would amount to a major leadership shake-up at the department that oversees the American military and millions of federal employees. The Defense Department bars civilian employees from running for political office, meaning Hegseth would have to resign to do so.

In a statement, Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, said, “Hegseth’s focus remains solely on serving under President Trump.”

One of the people said their discussion with Hegseth happened within the past three weeks and that it was serious, not simply spitballing ideas. The other person, who also characterized it as serious, wouldn’t say when they had spoken — except that it was since Hegseth became defense secretary in January. The two sources, along with others in this article, were granted anonymity to speak candidly.

The discussions centered on what it would take to run. One person said they discussed the eligibility requirements to run for governor of Tennessee and Hegseth’s chances of winning. The other person said they talked with Hegseth about the realities of a campaign.

The people who have spoken with Hegseth said he has specifically mentioned a possible campaign for governor in Tennessee, where he lives. The state has an open race for governor next year, though there are eligibility requirements for candidates that Hegseth might not meet.

Ultimately, both sources said, it was unclear after their conversations with Hegseth whether he would take the leap. But they both said he has contemplated it.

Parnell said in the statement: “Fake news NBC is so desperate for attention, they are shopping around a made up story… again. Only two options exist: either the ‘sources’ are imaginary or these reporters are getting punked. Secretary Hegseth’s focus remains solely on serving under President Trump and advancing the America First mission at the Department of Defense.”

Others in Hegseth’s orbit said he doesn’t plan to launch a campaign. A person who spoke with the secretary last week asked him about speculation that he was looking for an off-ramp from being defense secretary, such as running for political office in Tennessee. This person said Hegseth was “very, very clear” that he wasn’t going to run and denied even considering it. The idea, this person said, is “totally off the table.”

And when asked, a longtime Trump adviser familiar with political discussions around Hegseth said he won’t run for office in Tennessee.

Hegseth, a former Army National Guard officer and Fox News host, has campaigned for political office before. He ran for the U.S. Senate in his home state, Minnesota, in 2012 and withdrew after he failed to win the GOP nomination. Minnesota also has an open Senate seat in 2026.

Hegseth’s political considerations come after a somewhat rocky first six months as defense secretary.

During his confirmation process, allegations surfaced around his treatment of his second wife, financial mismanagement, sexual misconduct and alcohol consumption — all of which he vehemently denied.

Since his confirmation, Hegseth has faced controversy over the abrupt firings of his top staff, accusations of chaos at the Pentagon and questions about his handling of sensitive military plans after he shared information about a military operation in Yemen on an unsecured group chat on Signal. A Pentagon inspector general’s report on the Signal chat, including the classification of the information Hegseth shared, could be released as early as next month.

Hegseth also suspended aid to Ukraine three times, but the White House reversed those decisions, NBC News reported.

Trump has said publicly that he maintains confidence in Hegseth, although privately he has at times expressed frustrations with him, NBC News has reported.

Politico recently reported that Trump and his inner circle stand by Hegseth. The New York Times also reported Saturday that Hegseth continues to clash with the military’s top generals over his personnel and promotion choices and what are seen as partisan priorities.

If Hegseth were to declare his candidacy for office, Trump has several replacement options, at least temporarily. They include Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, a close friend of Vice President JD Vance’s, or the Pentagon’s policy chief, Elbridge Colby, according to four people familiar with the matter. Both were confirmed by the Senate for their current jobs and could serve as acting defense secretary for a period without another confirmation hearing.

Hegseth could face eligibility requirements if he wants to run for office in Tennessee.

Tennessee law says candidates for governor must have lived in the state for seven years before the election. Hegseth moved to the state around three years ago; public records show that his name is linked to a suburban Nashville address last sold in the middle of 2022.

Tennessee Republican Party bylaws also have a series of requirements for Republican primary candidates, including having voted in three of the last four most recent statewide Republican primary elections in which the candidate is eligible to vote. There have been statewide Republican primaries in Tennessee in 2022 and 2024.

Those bylaws have blocked other candidates from seeking office in the past, including in 2022, when the state GOP removed Trump-backed Morgan Ortagus, a former State Department spokeswoman, from the congressional primary ballot after she had recently moved to the state.

Hegseth would be likely to face challenges from within his own party if he decided to run for governor.

Republican Rep. John Rose is running and has lent himself $5 million to bolster his campaign. Sen. Marsha Blackburn also has long considered a campaign for governor. Blackburn, Tennessee’s senior senator, has served in public office for more than 25 years and holds considerable sway among the state’s GOP.

A source familiar with Blackburn’s plans said she intends to announce her next steps in August.

If Blackburn does decide to run and she were to win, she would have to vacate her Senate seat in 2027 and appoint a successor until a special election. That could provide another political option for Hegseth in his home state. Tennessee requires candidates for the Senate to have lived in the state for at least three years.

Scott Golden, chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party, said he hasn’t spoken with Trump about a potential Hegseth run.

“Nobody has called to talk about this as a reality,” Golden said, adding, “I don’t know where it’s coming from, and maybe it will be real.”

Golden said that the last time he spoke with Hegseth was on election night last year. He was last at the White House in April, he said, for a tour.

“Right now, it’s just not something that we’re even thinking about,” Golden said.

Another Republican operative in Tennessee was skeptical that Hegseth’s running for office was well developed or far along, saying they hadn’t heard anything about it.

Blackburn is close with Glenn Jacobs, the Republican mayor of Knox County and a former professional wrestler, and she could appoint him to her Senate seat, according to a person familiar with the situation. This person said Blackburn hasn’t had any conversations with Hegseth about an appointment.

A person close to Blackburn said it was premature to discuss whom she would choose as her successor.

“There has never been a conversation of anyone being appointed,” this person said, adding that Blackburn has also not spoken with anyone, including Hegseth, about his potentially running for office in Tennessee.

“I know they talk,” the person said, “but never about this.”