Pete Hegseth, the newly appointed Secretary of Defense, has opened up a firestorm. This came on the heels of an unprecedented speech he made last week to senior military leaders. In the course of his address, Hegseth blasted D&I directives in the armed forces. He even tagged the Department of Defense as “the woke department.” It’s no surprise that countless veterans were enraged by his comments. That is why they forcefully challenged his claims and the course upon which he is steering the armed forces.
Since his confirmation, far-right operative Hegseth has made profound revocations within military governance. In early May, he ordered a cut of 20% in the ranks of four-star generals and admirals. This recent move is part of his broader effort to change the face of military leadership. Since January, he’s already fired over half-a-dozen four-star generals. Notably, Hegseth fired Air Force General CQ Brown Jr., the first Black man to serve as chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in February.
Hegseth’s background as a Fox News host before his appointment to defense secretary has raised questions about his qualifications and approach to military policy. Alongside John Phelan, confirmed as navy secretary in March and a prominent Trump mega-donor, Hegseth has sought to limit the influence of the navy under secretary. Their advocacy has led to tangible changes within the navy’s policy and budgeting offices.
Hegseth and Phelan have already made a huge break with their emerging leadership team. They recently shifted a handful of senior staffers who had initially been planned to help support the new navy undersecretary, Hung Cao. This shift occurred just days before Jon Harrison’s firing, intensifying scrutiny on the duo’s management style.
Hegseth and Phelan have gained national attention with a bold but reckless move. They deep-sixed the only two women who were serving as four-star officers in the navy. These actions have fueled concerns about the future of diversity and representation within military leadership as Hegseth continues to implement his vision.
Despite the President’s decision, the military community continues to be split over Hegseth’s tactics. Supporters applaud his commitment to restructuring and efficiency, but critics are concerned that sidelining diversity initiatives come at a cost. His rhetoric and moves can do a lot of damage to military moral. They could reassert the forces’ commitment to inclusion and watch them squirm.