Trump and Hegseth have hollowed out the US military in ju...

Key Points:

• Dan Driscoll resigned as Secretary of the US Army after 18 months, warning President Trump that Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth's leadership was damaging the US Army by firing high-level generals and interfering in promotions, causing uncertainty among officers and troops.
• Hegseth's tenure has been marked by controversial management, including an anti-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion campaign that led to dismissals of top black and female officers, and a focus on a narrow "warrior culture" image, which critics say undermines military effectiveness.
• The US military's readiness has declined significantly due to the prolonged conflict with Iran, which has depleted critical munitions like Patriot interceptors and THAAD missiles, with replenishment expected to take decades at current production rates.
• Key military assets have been overstretched, with only a quarter of the Navy's destroyer fleet deployable, extended deployment rotations for Army air-defense crews, and redeployment of forces from Asia and Europe to the Middle East, raising concerns about US ability to respond to multiple global threats.
• Despite Trump's claims of rebuilding a stronger military, experts and officials warn that the current force is weakened, with strained alliances and depleted resources potentially emboldening adversaries like China and Russia to take aggressive actions.