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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) held a hearing today to hear testimony from Pete Hegseth regarding his expected nomination to be the 29th Secretary of Defense. If confirmed, Hegseth would oversee a U.S. Department of Defense of over 3 million people and a yearly budget of almost $900 billion, while also acting as the principal defense policymaker and adviser to the President.
Hegseth received a bachelor’s degree in politics from Princeton University in 2003 and a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University in 2013 before serving as the co-host of FOX & Friends Weekend from 2016 to 2024. He served nearly 15 years in uniform, and deployed as an Army Combat Veteran who toured in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
During the hearing, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) thanked Hegseth for the strong and unapologetic proclamation of faith in his opening statement.
“First, I want to say thank you for your strong proclamation, unapologetic proclamation, of faith in Jesus Christ,” said Cramer. “I sat here and listened to your opening statement and thought, ‘Wow, this is a guy who, in today’s culture, is willing to stand up say the first thing is first: faith in Jesus Christ.’ I was reminded of what Christ said in Matthew, ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ You are going to have a great future as our secretary, and I look forward to that day happening.”
As Secretary of Defense, Hegseth has pledged to focus on rebuilding peace through strength, prioritizing America’s military readiness by replenishing its supply of ammunition, restoring the Warrior Ethos to the U.S. military, and reestablishing deterrence by focusing on lethality and maintaining America’s competitive edge.
Hegseth’s orders to serve with his National Guard unit during the inauguration of President Joe Biden were revoked because of his Jerusalem Cross tattoo, which Hegseth’s detractors allege make him an extremist. Cramer asked him about the tattoo, to which Hegseth said it is a “historic Christian symbol” that was displayed on the front of program at President Jimmy Carter’s funeral and the floor of the National Cathedral.
“It is a Christian religious symbol, and when the events happened preceding the Biden inauguration, I was a part of the mobilization to defend that inauguration,” said Hegseth. “I had orders to come to Washington, D.C. to guard that inauguration, and at the last minute, those orders were revoked. I never had orders revoked before. I’ve been on orders to a lot of places, to do a lot of difficult and dangerous things.”
“I’d been identified as an extremist,” continued Hegseth. “And if that’s happening to me, Senator, how many other men and women? How many other patriots? How many other people of conscience? We haven’t even talked about COVID. […] Things like focusing on extremism, Senator, have created a climate inside our ranks that feel political when it hasn’t ever been political. Those are the types of things that are going to change.”
Cramer thanked Hegseth for his pledge to defend freedom and identified his critics’ projection of hypocrisy. He explained “the people who would deny you your expression of faith are the extremists. They’re the racists, they’re the bigots. You’re the one whose protecting their right to be one. Thank you for that.”
In his opening statement, Hegseth said, “leaders at all levels will be held accountable, and warfighting and lethality and the readiness of the troops and their families will be our only focus.” Cramer said at that moment, in his mind’s eye, he heard soldiers, airmen, Marines, sailors, guardians from the Pentagon to the Pacific and everywhere in between, applaud.
Hegseth has announced a plan to purge diversity, equity and inclusion accommodations and “woke” generals. Cramer asked Hegseth where the wokeness comes from, and who will be held accountable.
“I think just about, maybe everyone, that wears the uniform that has ever come before this committee, or that I’ve met with privately, publicly, that I’ve been on tours with, that I’ve travelled with, that wear the uniform, whether it’s with four stars or no stars, agrees with that statement,” said Cramer. “There’s been a lot of talk about firing woke generals, creating the purge group, and all those things you and I have talked about. I would say give those men and women a chance under new leadership. […] I just would encourage you to trust them first, and look forward to them saluting the civilian leadership of this country."
Hegseth responded by saying the wokeness comes from the political class. He explained when Donald Trump is sworn in, he will issue a new set of lawful orders, and the leadership of our services will have an opportunity to follow those lawful orders or not. Hegseth noted these “lawful orders will not be based on politics. They will be based on readiness, accountability, standards, and lethality.”
“In Donald Trump’s Pentagon, there will be real standards for success,” said Hegseth.
Cramer concluded by expressing his appreciation for the fact Hegseth emphasizes reputational deterrence, “because deterrence is not a weapon system. It is an attitude.”