Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Faces Sharp Criticism Over Pentagon Leadership
Retired Brigadier General Paul Eaton and former officials accuse Hegseth of prioritizing culture wars over military preparedness and global alliances.
- Retired Brigadier General Paul Eaton has criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, calling him unfit for the role and accusing him of neglecting military preparedness for future conflicts.
- Hegseth has overseen the dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, as well as the removal of senior female and minority officers from key leadership roles in the Pentagon.
- Former officials warn that Hegseth's policies, including the closure of offices focused on civilian harm mitigation, risk undermining military discipline and operational effectiveness.
- Critics highlight that Hegseth's actions, such as freezing intelligence and weapons support for Ukraine and reducing international cooperation, have weakened global alliances and military interoperability.
- Hegseth's focus on domestic issues, such as border security, and his alignment with Christian nationalist views have raised concerns about the Pentagon's strategic priorities under his leadership.