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Hegseth has ‘undermined’ the US military, says Republican on Armed Services Committee
The Independent • • nation
Key Points:
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces criticism from House Republican Rep. Don Bacon for firing and delaying promotions of senior Pentagon officers, disproportionately affecting women and people of color, which Bacon says harms the military’s effectiveness.
- Over two dozen senior commanders have been forced out, resigned, or fired since Hegseth took over, including high-profile figures like Gen. CQ Brown and Gen. Randy George, amid concerns about politicization of military leadership.
- The Pentagon shakeup continues amid President Trump’s ongoing conflict with Iran, with some GOP members publicly questioning the administration’s narrative of military success in the dispute.
- Reports indicate a climate of fear and paranoia within the Pentagon’s top ranks due to the firings and promotion interference, leading to polygraph tests and nondisclosure agreements that may impact military readiness.
- Hegseth’s team denies these reports, accusing the media of spreading unverified rumors, while purging non-Trump-aligned journalists from Pentagon access.
