The Most Disturbing Facts About Pete Hegseth You Need to Know
The scandals, the inexperience, the policy views - this Secretary of Defense nominee is a walking red flag
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Among all of Trump’s nominees, there are a few that stand out to me as national security risks and truly bad decisions for the future of our country: Kash Patel, Tulsi Gabbard and Pete Hegseth.
Today the Senate is holding the hearing for Hegseth, nominated by Trump to be Secretary of Defense.
This might be your first time following the Cabinet nomination process. Usually it earns a lot fewer headlines than the typical Trump era mayhem. In fact all of Trump’s chaos is often highly calculated to distract from the very important nomination process.These nominations matter; any boss is the sum of his employees and Trump is no exception.
The Process: All of the nearly 40 cabinet level nominations must be confirmed by the Senate, a process outlined in the Constitution. Since November, the nominees have been doing private meetings with members of the Senate. Hearings are then held in committees, the Senators are given the background information, financial disclosures, and when appropriate, security clearance information. They are then able to ask the nominee on-the-record questions during the hearing which in Hegseth’s case is being held by the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The committee needs to vote on the nominee with a majority and then it’s sent to the Senate floor where the nomination is voted on by the entire Senate. The filibuster was gotten rid of for cabinet nominations by Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in 2013 in response to Republicans blocking Obama nominees - so the threshold is 50 votes.
The Secretary of Defense commands America's military, is in charge of 3.4 million personnel here and abroad, and controls a staggering $850 billion budget. They're the person who walks into the Situation Room during crisis moments, whose decisions can mean the difference between war and peace. Trump wants to put that power in the hands of someone whose main qualification is hosting Fox News segments.
Quick Hegseth Facts:
44 years old
A Major in the Minnesota Army National Guard who served tours in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay
Former leader of the Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) and Vets for Freedom. Both of these are non profit organizations that promote conservative values in veterans affairs. CVA was created under the auspices of the right-wing billionaire Koch Family.
Author of three books, two of which have the word “free” in the title
Co-Host, Fox and Friends Weekend
Yes, Hegseth served honorably in the Army National Guard, but leading the Pentagon isn't like leading a platoon. It's like running a Fortune 500 company, a diplomatic corps, and a strategic think tank all at once. Previous Defense Secretaries brought decades of high-level military command, government service, or defense policy experience. Hegseth brings none of these.
The sheer number of concerns I have about Hegseth’s nomination makes it difficult to know where to begin. The fact that he supports waterboarding? That he doesn’t believe women should be in combat? The allegations of sexual misconduct? The drinking?
Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote a scathing 33 page letter with over 70 questions to Hegseth. She requested a written response by January 10th (this is par for the course, though the quality of work here is better than normal.) She wrote:
I have serious concerns about your qualifications to serve in this role given your past history, including mismanagement of two non-profit organizations you ran, accusations of sexual assault and drinking problems, your blatant disregard for the contributions of female servicemembers, support for war crimes and torture, threats to politicize the military, advocating for ‘war’ against political enemies, threats to undermine DoD readiness and diversity, and contempt for veterans receiving benefits they earned.
I'll start with his glaring lack of experience before examining his potential to misuse power, his inflammatory views, and the numerous allegations of misconduct against him.
The Secretary of Defense is second only to the President in matters of national defense and military affairs, overseeing all branches of the U.S. armed forces, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. They manage a vast organization with millions of personnel and an annual budget of hundreds of billions of dollars.
The Secretary of Defense's role is essential in maintaining national security, shaping military strategy, and ensuring the effective use of the nation's defense resources. Their decisions and actions have far-reaching implications for both domestic and international affairs, making it one of the most critical positions in the U.S. government.
Hegseth is woefully unprepared to take on any of this responsibility. His primary qualification is his role as a Fox News host and generally looking like the type of man Trump imagines he would nominate as Secretary of Defense. While Hegseth has military experience, he lacks the type of management and leadership experience typically demanded for the position of Secretary of Defense.
Hegseth has never managed large organizations or crafted complex defense policies. He has no experience leading an organization remotely comparable to the Department of Defense, which employs over 3 million people and manages a budget of nearly $850 billion. Having never worked in government, he lacks the crucial experience needed to navigate the Pentagon's labyrinthine bureaucracy and coordinate with other government agencies. The role demands deep knowledge of global security issues, military strategy, and international relations – expertise that Hegseth's background as a Fox News personality and veteran simply doesn't provide. If confirmed, Hegseth would be the least experienced Defense Secretary in U.S. history.
According to press reports Hegseth was forced to step down from leadership in both his non-profits because of, among other reasons, “serious allegations of financial mismanagement.”
A whistleblower letter said that he “treated the organization funds like they were a personal expense account—for partying, drinking, and using CVA events as little more than opportunities to ‘hook up’ with women on the road.”
Hegseth's nomination is compromised by multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and alcohol abuse. These accusations not only challenge his character but raise fundamental questions about his judgment and reliability in a position demanding unwavering integrity and stability. He has pledged to not drink if confirmed, but as Sen. Warren said, “your past violation of similar policies raises serious concerns about your ability to keep your promise.”
Here is a short list of the allegations: