Tag Archives: Pete Hegseth

USA Today reports: President Donald Trump referred to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as Secretary of War on a TruthSocial post Friday. “Secretary of War Pete Hegseth was great on FoxNews this morning. Talking about modern weapons and warfare,” Trump posted after Fox News aired a clip of the Pentagon chief talking about a new drone strategy. This is not …

From yesterday’s report: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday announced sweeping changes to the way the Pentagon buys and fields uncrewed air systems, or UAS, with a goal of establishing “UAS domain dominance” by 2027. Hegseth announced the policy changes in a video recorded on the Pentagon’s front lawn. With Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” playing in the background, a quadcopter delivered a …

Defense News reports: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday announced sweeping changes to the way the Pentagon buys and fields uncrewed air systems, or UAS, with a goal of establishing “UAS domain dominance” by 2027. Hegseth announced the policy changes in a video recorded on the Pentagon’s front lawn. With Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” playing in the background, a quadcopter delivered …

CNN reports: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth did not inform the White House before he authorized a pause on weapons shipments to Ukraine last week, according to five sources familiar with the matter, setting off a scramble inside the administration to understand why the halt was implemented and explain it to Congress and the Ukrainian government. President Donald Trump suggested …

NBC News reports: The Defense Department held up a shipment of U.S. weapons for Ukraine this week over what officials said were concerns about its low stockpiles. But an analysis by senior military officers found that the aid package would not jeopardize the American military’s own ammunition supplies, according to three U.S. officials. The move to halt the weapons shipment …

The military blog Task & Purpose reports: The Defense Department’s renaming spree may be slowing after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered a new name for the USNS Harvey Milk last week. A defense official told Task & Purpose that no decision has been made to rename other ships like the Harvey Milk, one of 12 John Lewis-class replenishment oilers …

Military.com reports: The Army is preparing to roll out a new policy that could lead to soldiers diagnosed with a chronic skin condition that causes painful razor bumps and scarring to be kicked out of the service — an issue that disproportionately affects Black men. The new guidance, expected to take effect in the coming weeks, would bar permanent shaving …

The New York Times reports: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday that the U.S. Navy was renaming the U.S.N.S. Harvey Milk, a fleet replenishment ship that had been named for a Navy veteran and one of the country’s first openly gay elected officials. He said that the vessel would be renamed for Oscar V. Peterson, a chief petty officer …

The Independent reports: President Donald Trump has announced that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will host a press conference on Thursday “in order to fight for the Dignity of our Great American Pilots” amid the ongoing row over the extent of the damage done to Iran’s nuclear facilities during Saturday’s B-2 bombing raid. “Secretary of Defense (War!) Pete Hegseth, together with …

The Washington Examiner reports: The Defense Department is working with the FBI to investigate who leaked a classified assessment of the damage incurred by the U.S. bombings in Iran, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The focal point of the controversy is the Defense Intelligence Agency’s early assessment of the strike damage, which concluded that less damage was inflicted than …

The Daily Beast reports: President Donald Trump floated bringing back the title of Secretary of War despite repeatedly declaring himself a president who is all about peace. The president made the comment during his press conference alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday at the NATO Summit. “I have, as you know, Marco Rubio with me and Pete Hegseth, Secretary …

NPR reports: The U.S. attack on Iran’s nuclear sites involved B-2 Stealth Bombers and also included at least one submarine, according to a U.S. official who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information. Those are some of the details emerging hours after the first U.S. offensive operation in war between Israel and Iran. The Pentagon will provide a …

The Washington Post reports: As President-elect Donald Trump assembled his core national security team early this year, congressional and media attention fell on two choices better known for their Fox News appearances and invective against a supposed “deep state” than for their executive branch experience: Director of National Intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard and Pete Hegseth, Trump’s pick to lead the …

Rolling Stone reports: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office requested “a passive approach to Juneteenth messaging” for the holiday on Thursday commemorating the end of slavery, according to an email obtained by Rolling Stone. The news was relayed by the Pentagon’s Office of the Chief of Public Affairs, which said it wasn’t planning to publish Juneteenth-related content online, per the email. …

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO: “At a time when steady leadership is critical, we are confronted with crisis and instability. Mr. Secretary, close to 5,000 Marines and National Guard have been deployed to LA without the request or consent of the California governor or Los Angeles Mayor Bass. Rather than calming the situation, this troop deployment is purposefully inflaming and escalating tensions. …

The military blog Task & Purpose reports: Four senior executives of tech giants like Meta and Palantir are being sworn into the Army Reserve as direct-commissioned officers at the unusually high rank of lieutenant colonel as part of a new program to recruit private-sector experts to speed up tech adoption. The Army calls the program to recruit Silicon Valley executives …

The Daily Beast reports: President Donald Trump was unhappy with his sparsely attended military parade over the weekend and blamed it on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, biographer Michael Wolff revealed. Wolff told The Daily Beast Podcast that Trump wanted a “menacing” show of force to celebrate the Army’s 250th anniversary and his 79th birthday on Saturday—but got a “festive” parade …

GOP SEN. MIKE TURNER: “I just want to help you out because people try to twist your words. You are not confirming in your testimony today that at the Pentagon there are plans for invading or taking by force Greenland, correct? That is not your testimony today?” PETE HEGSETH: “All my testimony is, is that the Pentagon has plans for …

SEN. TAMMY BALDWIN: “Just specifically, Mr. Secretary, what is the authority that the administration is using to deploy active-duty Marines to California neighborhoods? What authority?” PETE HEGSETH: “Senator, the president has constitutional authority in order to support–” BALDWIN: “Cite the provision of the Constitution.” HEGSETH: “I’d have to pull up the specific provision, but our Office of General Counsel, alongside …

The Huffington Post reports: After persistent questioning about the cost of sending National Guard members and Marines to Los Angeles, Hegseth turned to his acting comptroller, Bryn Woollacott MacDonnell, who said it would cost $134 million. Hegseth defended Trump’s decision to send the troops, saying they are needed to protect federal agents as they do their jobs. The House Defense …