▶ 0:15:14>> good morning hearing will come to order. The committee on armed services has convened this hearing of the pending nomination of Mr. pete hegseth to be secretary of defense.
▶ 0:15:31At this point, in light of the continued suffering and death in and around los angeles, california, I am going to ask my colleagues and those in the audience to observe a moment of silence. Amen.
▶ 0:16:01Thank you. I also want to take this opportunity to thank my good friend, ranking member of jack reed. This is my first opportunity to chair this committee and this congress. I want to thank senator reed.
▶ 0:16:21Under his chairmanship he proved time after time that he cares deeply about the united in the men and women who wear the uniform and stand watch here and around the world. Senator reed I want to thank you for the many courtesies you have extended to me in the past and I look forward to working with you again in a bipartisan fashion in this congress.
▶ 0:16:48It is also appropriate to recognize and welcome three senators attending their very first senate armed service committee hearing as members. Senator banks of indiana, senator sheehy and senator slotkin of michigan. We are happy to have you as senator colleagues and look forward to many important contributions from each of you.
▶ 0:17:20And senator slotkin, as I looked down at the end, it seems that only a week or two ago I was sitting in that very chair being recognized by the chairman of the committee, the distinguished senator from michigan. Time flies.
▶ 0:17:41Let me say this, we had a very appropriate expression of approval by the members of the audience as our nominee and his family walked in.
▶ 0:18:02The distinguished ranking member and I sincerely hope that that is the last signal of approval or disapproval in today's hearing. People of the public are here and welcome to observe today's hearing and senator reed and I agree that no disruptions will be allowed.
▶ 0:18:27Audience members may not verbally or physically distract from the hearing to include shouting, standing, or raising signage or gestures that block the view of the audience. We are very serious about this, aren't we, Mr. reed? Those who do so will be immediately escorted from the room.
▶ 0:18:56So again, welcome to the witnesses to his friends, and to interested members of the public. If confirmed, Mr. pete hegseth would assume the role in a moment of consequence.
▶ 0:19:21The united states faces the most dangerous security since -- we witness the explosive growth and reach of china's hard power in observing the emergence of an axis of aggressors. That coalition is characterized by broadening and deepening military cooperation among the dictatorships, china, russia, iran, and north korea.
▶ 0:19:45Terrorism remains a threat as israel wages war against hamas and hezbollah and as the assad regime collapses in syria. America has entered a window of maximum danger and the department needs energetic and focused civilian leadership. Those values begin at the top of the secretary of defense.
▶ 0:20:08Many of my distinguished colleagues have served in a significant tenure on this committee and our meetings are fairly long. We should reflect on the previous secretaries of defense and ask ourselves a simple question, has the civilian leadership of the pentagon under the administration of both parties proven up to the challenge? Often the answer has been no. The civilian leadership has not billed the department of defense to meet the moment.
▶ 0:20:41And this is our moment to correct that. A few examples illustrate how leaders in the past have fallen short. Most of the department signature program run years behind schedule and billions of dollars over cost. Vital initiatives had suffered such as the f-35, in the navy shipbuilding program including unique constellation class.
▶ 0:21:04The department of defense desperately needs civilian leaders who listen to the advice of commanders, many of whom would benefit from innovated systems. Get a risk-averse culture has kept too many promising technologies on the wrong side of the so-called valley of death. That tenuous period between experimental prototypes and production contracts, defense companies backed by venture capital receive less than 1% of defense contracts.
▶ 0:21:36As we all know, the pentagon still cannot even pass an audit. The department must simplify and streamline its bureaucracy so it can respond to innovation. Staffs have ballooned, organizations are top-heavy, civilian leaders have promised time and again to slim down the bureaucracy and perhaps genuinely hope to. Every day men and women in uniform make tremendous contributions to U.S.
▶ 0:22:02Security where they and the american people deserve a pentagon that does the same. Today's department of defense is no longer prepare for great power competition. It is not a national defense institution ready to achieve and sustain technological supremacy across the range of operations. Admittedly, this nomination is unconventional.
▶ 0:22:29The nominee is unconventional, just like that new york developer who wrote down the escalator in 2015 to announce his candidacy for president. That may be what makes Mr. hegseth an excellent choice to improve this unacceptable status quo that I just described. He is a decorated post-9/11 combat veteran.
▶ 0:22:57He will inject a new warrior ethos into the pentagon, a spirit that can cascade from the top down. Mr. hegseth will bring energy and fresh ideas to shake up the bureaucracy and focus relentlessly on the war fighter in the military core missions, winning the ones we must fight. He will be a swift end to corrosive distractions such as eei -- dei.
▶ 0:23:28Many are living with the problems I mentioned earlier, acquisition, accountability, technology transitions and organizational reform. Mr. hegseth will actually move to fix these issues decisively. In short, I am confident that Mr. hegseth, supported by a team of top officials, will get the job done. The secretary of defense is incredibly important position and the span of control is limited.
▶ 0:23:57The pentagon is vast with 3 million plus personnel, uniformed civilian and contractors. A successful secretary understands that steering the ship means focusing his attention on strategic level priorities. The secretary must be supported with exceptional subordinates who will run the day-to-day affairs, military services and other dod components. I am also confident that as an infantry man Mr.
▶ 0:24:27Hegseth understands the military commander intent, communicate the clear objective, empower subordinates to use initiative and judgment, and hold everybody accountable. We must not underestimate the importance of having a top shelf communicator as secretary of defense.
▶ 0:24:50Other than the president, no official plays a larger role in telling the men and women in uniform about the threats we face in what we need for policy. I have no doubt Mr. hegseth will excel in which many of his predecessors have fallen short. Much of been made of both his personal life and some of his policy pronouncements.
▶ 0:25:17Reading his personal conduct he has admitted to falling short, as we all do from time to time. It is noteworthy that the vast majority of the accusations leveled at Mr. hegseth have come from anonymous sources. Contrast these anonymous accusations with the many public letters of support and commendation could we have seen letters from people who have served with Mr. hegseth and have worked with him professionally. They really know him and his character.
▶ 0:25:47These patriotic americans have been willing to put their names and reputations on the line to support Mr. hegseth. I look forward to sharing these testimonials with the american people. Let me mention one that comes from david, who earned the medal of honor for heroic actions and combat in fallujah, iraq. David writes the following, "pete is fearless, unflappable, and confronts conflicts head on.
▶ 0:26:18He is a leader to the core. When pete is confirmed as the next secretary of defense of the united states of america, this country will finally know the privilege of having a true ambassador able to speak on behalf of of this generation and its two decade war on terror. Washington doesn't build men like pete, combat builds men like pete." as I said, there are more letters expressing the same endorsement.
▶ 0:26:48Today we will hear from the nominee directly. I want to thank Mr. hegseth as well as his loved ones for being here. I look forward to discussing his nomination and hearing from him about the ways he hopes to rebuild the american strength that builds the piece. And now I go to ranking member at reed for his opening remarks.
▶ 0:27:12Sen. Reed: I would like to congratulate you on your chairmanship. I look forward to our strong committee of partnership and collaboration in thank you for your service to the committee over many years. I would also like to take a moment to join chairman wicker in welcoming our new members, senator slotkin, senator banks and senator shaheen. We look forward to working with you.
▶ 0:27:42Sen. Reed: Mr. hegseth, I welcome you and your family to today's hearing and I'm glad to recognize my former colleague and congressman. I want to begin by saying I respect and appreciate your military service in the armed national guard. I know from experience that there is no greater experience than to lead american soldiers and I thank you for answering the call. You have been nominated to be secretary of defense.
▶ 0:28:10Sen. Reed: The secretary is responsible for leading the department of 3.5 million service members and civilians, an annual budget of nearly 900 billion dollars, in hundreds of thousands of aircraft ships, submarines, combat vehicles, satellites and the nuclear arsenal. The secretary also plays a powerful role with our allies, partners and adversaries abroad and as we speak in china is trying to undermine us and challenge our standing in the world.
▶ 0:28:39Sen. Reed: Russia's campaign against ukraine threatens not only europe, but the entire global order. Ongoing violence in the middle east has teetered on the edge of all out war, and the ideologies and actions of violent extremists engage our citizens, even on our own soil, as the recent tragedy in new orleans painfully reminds us.
▶ 0:29:02Sen. Reed: These are perilous times in the position of secretary of defense demands a leader of unparalleled experience, wisdom, and above all else, character. The secretary is expected to be a fair, nonpartisan, and responsible leader as well as a trustworthy advocate for the men and women that he leads. Mr. hegseth, I do not believe that you are qualified to meet the overall demands of this job.
▶ 0:29:29Sen. Reed: We must acknowledge the concerning public reports against you, a variety of sources, including your own writings implicate you with disregarding the laws of war, a financial mismanagement, racist and sexist remarks about men and women in uniform, alcohol abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and other troubling issues. I reviewed many of these allegations and find them extremely alarming.
▶ 0:29:57Sen. Reed: Indeed, the totality of your own writings and alleged conduct would disqualify any service member from holding any leadership position in the military, much less being confirmed as the secretary of defense. Nonetheless, I understand that you reject many of these reports as they involve whistleblowers, nondisclosure agreements and anonymous although numerous sources, including those who have faced political intimidation for sharing their experiences.
▶ 0:30:24Sen. Reed: I hope you will address each of these allegations thoroughly and truthfully during your testimony . Just as importantly, I hope you will pledge to prevent any repercussions for whistleblowers in the military if confirmed. Mr. hegseth, during our meeting you said if confirmed, your top party would be "restoring a warrior culture to the department of defense," because you believe the U.S. military has been weakened by political correctness.
▶ 0:30:54Sen. Reed: You have made clear your opinions of the diversity initiatives as you have said, "diversity is not our strength, unity is." and recently you said, "I'm straight up saying we should not have women in combat roles." when I joined the army as a young officer in the 1970's, it was rife -- gay service members were banned in we allowed on the
▶ 0:31:24Sen. Reed: Draft. The soldiers I served with were proud to do so but it was certainly not the most capable military by any standard. We have made great progress since then. Today the department of defense is fully integrated, every race and religion is accepted, women serve in all combat roles and leadership positions. Sexual orientation is irrelevant to service in the all volunteer force reflects the nation it protects.
▶ 0:31:50Sen. Reed: A military is more diverse than it has ever been but more important it is more lethal than it has ever been. This is not a coincidence. Mr. hegseth I hope you will explain why you believe such diversity is making the military week and how you propose to undo that without undermining military leadership and harming readiness, recruitment, and retention. Mr.
▶ 0:32:13Sen. Reed: Hegseth, another reason I'm deep in her concern is your disregard for the law of armed conflict and support for service members who have been convicted of war crimes. You have championed the parting of military members who were turned in by their fellow soldiers and let me emphasize that.
▶ 0:32:32Sen. Reed: They weren't discovered by reporters, they were turned in by fellow soldiers and also parting of military contractors convicted of killing 14 iraqi citizens. Also advocated for interrogation methods like waterboarding that have been defined as torture and you have belittled the advice of the judge advocate general while on deployment.
▶ 0:32:56Sen. Reed: In your book, you write, "should we follow the geneva convention ?if we', aren't we just better off in winning wars according to our own rules?
▶ 0:33:20Sen. Reed: I would ask that you explain how if confirmed you would maintain good order and discipline in the armed forces and the support of our allies and partners by rejecting international law. I am also concerned about your abilities as a competent manager of organizations far less complex than the department of defense. From 2008 to 2010, he led the veterans for freedom which had an annual budget of less than $10 million.
▶ 0:33:49Sen. Reed: Each year you were in charge, expense is exceeded revenues until the organization teetered on bankruptcy and had to reemerge. According to public reporting, and independent forensic accountant reviewed the finances and discovered evidence of gross financial mismanagement. I would note this report has not been made available for any government agencies. Which is, I think, alarming.
▶ 0:34:21Sen. Reed: A republican advisor to you during your tenure at the organization who read the report stated, "I watched him run an organization very poorly, lose the confidence of donors, the organization ultimately folded and was forced to merge with another organization whose individuals who could help and managed funds more responsible than he could." I don't know how he is going to run an organization with a $857 billion budget and 3 million
▶ 0:34:51Sen. Reed: Individuals. That is the only comment we have had and the only access we have had to the forensic report. A similar thing happened with the concerned veterans with america, a second veterans group he led from 2011 two 2000 16. Tax records show the organization spent more than it raised -- 2011-2016. Tax records show the organization spent more than it raised. He had drinking and questionable personal behavior.
▶ 0:35:21Sen. Reed: I hope you will explain what actions you will take to confirm to be a better steward of the budget. While I appreciated our meeting last week, it is unacceptable that you did not meet with any other democratic members of this committee before this hearing, as has been our bipartisan tradition. During my time in the senate, I voted for and worked closely with secretaries of defense reported -- appointed by republican presidents.
▶ 0:35:50Sen. Reed: While we disagree politically, there was always the understand that rate partisanship should have no place when it comes to providing with the men and women who served in uniform. I am troubled by the many, she obeyed made, both as a commentator and in writing. For example, you wrote "modern leftists who represent the soul of the modern democratic party literally hate the foundational ideas of america." you also wrote "the other side, the left, is not our friend.
▶ 0:36:22Sen. Reed: We are not esteemed colleagues and nowhere near political opponents. We are foes, either they win or we win. We agree on nothing else." Mr. hegseth, as confirmed, it would lead an organization like the country it represents is composed of democrats and republicans, get your language suggest she would regard many of them as foes good I would ask you why serviceman and civilians
▶ 0:36:53Sen. Reed: Who don't share your opinion who can trust they won't be targeted during your tenure. The challenge of the secretary of defense is to remove partisan politics from the military. You propose to inject it. This would be an insult to the men and women toward to uphold your own a political duty to the constitution. You are the ninth nominee for secretary of defense that I've had the honor to can sitter -- to consider.
▶ 0:37:21Sen. Reed: I have voted in favor of all your predecessors, even the first trump administration. You lack the confidence to hold the position of secretary of defense. Thank you.
▶ 0:37:32Chair Wicker: Thank you senator reed. And now it is my privilege and honor and pleasure to recognize two witnesses who have come forward to introduce work nominee -- our nominee. First, I recognize my former colleague and interim norm coleman of minnesota for the purpose of an introduction.
▶ 0:38:03Chair Wicker: We are glad to see you and have you back, and you are recognized.
▶ 0:38:09Norm: Thank you, Mr. chairman, ranking member lee, members of the committee, my former colleagues. I am honored to introduce a son of minnesota to you, pete hegseth, a senator -- as a senator I spent many hours with this young man as he walked the halls of congress advocating on behalf of americans -- america's veterans.
▶ 0:38:30Norm: He is strong, focused, intelligent, incisive, a great listener in almost supernaturally energetic, just what we need in a secretary of defense in times of massive change. He is the real deal. F scott fitzgerald was a writer in my city of st. Paul, he said the problem with america is there are no second acts. He was wrong. Pete was a brave soldier, able communicator and I believe is about to begin a great second act as our secretary of defense.
▶ 0:39:00Norm: He has struggled and overcome great personal challenges. Please don't give into the cynical notion that people can't change. We need the ones who can change to lead us, to be beacons of hope and to remind us that grace can lead us home. Four years ago, president biden's nominee, lloyd austin, a good and honorable man received 97 votes.
▶ 0:39:27Norm: We went to the debacle of the afghanistan withdrawal, invaded ukraine, endangered shipping lanes and the united states was more of an impediment than help. Recruitment numbers have sunk dramatically and the southern border has suffered a slow but dangerous invasion. Yes, pete hegseth is an out-of-the-box nominee and I say it is high time to get out of the box.
▶ 0:39:57Norm: The country it longs for a government of less division and more respect and dignity. My hope is that this committee hearing provides what they are asking for. Disagree, yes, strongly if necessary, but then come together to support the nominee, this nominee, pete hegseth, is the one present we have at a time laying to rest partisan politics. Mr. chairman I yield.
▶ 0:40:26Chair Wicker: Thank you, norm, I do appreciate that and I appreciate your presence today. I now have the honor and pleasure of introducing congressman walz. I understand you are a member for another day or two.
▶ 0:40:52Chair Wicker: I know recognize congressman walz for whatever introduction he might have. >> chairman is a very nice ring to it, so congratulations ranking member read, distinguished members of this committee, it is a privilege to appear before you today and urged the members of this committee to confirm pete hegseth as our next secretary of defense.
▶ 0:41:18Chair Wicker: I am not here today to advocate on behalf of of a future colleague but to speak on behalf of of someone I consider a dear friend for over a decade now. Like pete, served in the U.S. army, I am a veteran, we deployed to afghanistan and all over the world at the height of the war on terror, which is the work of our generation.
▶ 0:41:46Chair Wicker: And like thousands of other war fighters -- war of our generation. And like thousands of other war fighters, we have experienced combat, lost comrades, and spent time away from family and no one hates more -- war more than those who have had to go fight it, no windows.
▶ 0:42:11Chair Wicker: Pete's story is that not that much different than the millions of other veterans, and they know it and appreciate him for the experiences he has gone through. After our country was brutally attacked on 9/11, pete hegseth answered the call of duty like so many others. He put the interest of this country ahead of his own.
▶ 0:42:32Chair Wicker: I can tell you firsthand, as can the heroes sitting in the office behind me, his selflessness, his duty, these are the key tenets that have shaped him into the leader he is today here these of the traits that president trump recognized when making the decision to nominate pete for this critical way.
▶ 0:42:55Chair Wicker: He will bring the perspective of being the first secretary of defense to have served as a junior officer on the front lines, not in the headquarters, on the front lines in the war on terror and recognize the human costs, financial costs, in the policy drift that was discussed often in this very room that led us to decades and decades of war.
▶ 0:43:22Chair Wicker: Not only does he understand the threats he faces, but as the chairman mentioned, he is brilliant, in my mind, at communicating those to the american people in a way that is often not communicated in washington, D.C., to reach out to the american people so they understand why the military needs to do what it needs to do. I have no doubt that he is going to get the pentagon back to its primary mission, lethal readiness.
▶ 0:43:53Chair Wicker: That warrior ethos is what our enemies will respect. That warrior ethos is what our enemies will fear. It is that warrior ethos that will keep the peace. Ladies and gentlemen, in my humble opinion, our military deserves better than it is getting. Our country faces a devastating recruitment crisis. Men and women are not volunteering to serve at the levels required. Our readiness is down. Our costs are up.
▶ 0:44:24Chair Wicker: It seems that nearly every weapons system, again often discussed in this very room, is costing too much, delivering too little, and taking way too long. The bottom line is, the status quo is unacceptable. It is not working, and the members of this committee, you all know it is not working.
▶ 0:44:48Chair Wicker: And the members of the house armed services know it is not working and we have a hearing after hearing, year after year, and here we are decades later describing the same problems. The pentagon has continually failed audits. The businesses that want to do business with the pentagon have to pass an audit but the institution fails. Morale is down, standards weakened and meritocracy is less valued.
▶ 0:45:17Chair Wicker: As a result, our adversaries have been in bold and all over the world. Ladies and gentlemen, it is time for change, it is time for change. You all have literally seen thousands of veterans as the chairman recited one amazing medal of honor recipient, but we have seen thousands of veterans expressing their support for pete. This is a man who can reinvigorate that warrior ethos and this is a man who will lead.
▶ 0:45:46Chair Wicker: I can't imagine having a more capable partner in my position as national security advisor. Pete is a man of family, faith, and he is committed to making our family -- country stronger again. And most importantly, and I know this to my core, he will always have as a first principle service members that are out there on the front lines for all of us at the heart of every decision he makes. Senators, I urge you to support this confirmation.
▶ 0:46:15Chair Wicker: It is critical that president trump has his national security team in place for the challenges ahead, and I thank you.
▶ 0:46:23Chair Wicker: Thank you, mike, for your testimony. I am guessing each and every member of this committee will want to have you on speed dial for the next few years. Thank you both.
▶ 0:46:42Chair Wicker: Our two guests may stay, or I know they have other engagements and responsibilities also, but thank you vote -- both for your testimony. At this point, Mr. hegseth, I am obligated to ask you a series of questions that the committee asks all civilian nominees who appear before it. If you would, please simply respond in the affirmative or negative.
▶ 0:47:09Chair Wicker: Have you appear to applicable laws and regulations governing conflicts of interest?
▶ 0:47:13Mr. Hegseth: Yes sir.
▶ 0:47:15Chair Wicker: Heavy assumed or taken any actions that would appear to presume the outcome of the confirmation process?
▶ 0:47:22Mr. Hegseth: No sir.
▶ 0:47:24Chair Wicker: It makes it important that this committee, its subcommittees and other appropriate committees of congress received testimony, reports, records and other information from the executive branch on a timely basis. Do you agree, if confirmed, to agree and testify before this committee when requested?
▶ 0:47:44Mr. Hegseth: Yes, sir.
▶ 0:47:46Chair Wicker: Do you agree to records, electronic medications in a timely manner when requested by this committee, subcommittees or other appropriate committees of congress and to consult with the requester for any good-faith delay or any denial in providing such records?
▶ 0:48:06Mr. Hegseth: Yes, sir.
▶ 0:48:08Chair Wicker: Will you ensure that your staff complies with deadlines established by this committee for the production of reports, records and other information, including timely responding to hearing questions for the record?
▶ 0:48:22Mr. Hegseth: Yes, sir.
▶ 0:48:24Chair Wicker: Will you cooperate in response to congressional requests?
▶ 0:48:31Mr. Hegseth: Yes, sir.
▶ 0:48:33Chair Wicker: Los witnesses be -- willows those witnesses be protected from reprisal?
▶ 0:48:41Mr. Hegseth: Yes, sir.
▶ 0:48:44Chair Wicker: At this point, Mr. hegseth, you are recognized for your opening statement.
▶ 0:48:51Mr. Hegseth: Thank you, chairman wicker, ranking member read, and all the members of this community -- this committee. I have learned a great deal from this advice and consent process. Our founders knew what they were doing. Should I be confirmed, I look forward to working with this committee, senators from both parties, to secure our nation.
▶ 0:49:14Mr. Hegseth: I want to think the former senator for his mentorship and friendship during this process in the incoming national security advisor, congressmen and more important for our purposes, colonel mike waltz for his powerful words. I'm grateful to them both. Thank you to my incredible wife, jennifer. She has changed my life and men with me throughout this entire process. I love you, sweetheart and I think god for you.
▶ 0:49:47Mr. Hegseth: And as jenny and I pray together every morning, all glory, regardless of the outcome belongs to our lord and savior jesus christ. His grace and mercy abounds each day, may his will be done.
▶ 0:50:04Mr. Hegseth: Thank you to my father, brian and mother, penny and our entire family including our seven wonderful kids, gunter, jackson, peter, kensington, luke,, rex, sorry, it is a lot of them, and wendelin. Their featured safety and security is in all of our hands.
▶ 0:50:28Mr. Hegseth: To all the troops and veterans watching in here in the room, navy seals, green berets, soldiers, pilots, marines, gold stars and more, too many names, officers and enlisted, black, white, young, old,, all warriors come of this hearing is for you. Thank you for having my back.
▶ 0:51:08Mr. Hegseth: >> [indiscernible]
▶ 0:51:11Chair Wicker: I want to thank the authorities before their swift reaction for that outburst . Mr. hegseth, you may continue.
▶ 0:51:25Mr. Hegseth: Thank you for figure t really -- figuratively and literally having my back. I pledge to do the same for all of you. It is my pleasure to come before you as the nominee for -- to put america first at home and abroad .
▶ 0:51:53Mr. Hegseth: I want to thank presint trump for his faith in me and selfless leadership for our republic. The troops have no better commander-in-chief than donald trump. As I have said too many of you in private meetings, when president trump showed to me that shows me -- chose me for this, he wants a pentagon laser focused on lethality,
▶ 0:52:23Mr. Hegseth: Meritocracy, at work fighting, accountability, and readiness. >> [yelling]
▶ 0:52:45Chair Wicker: You may continue, sir.
▶ 0:52:49Mr. Hegseth: Returning the pentagon backed war fighting. That is it. That is -- back to work fighting. That is it.
▶ 0:52:59Chair Wicker: The capitol police are going to remove immediately individuals disrupting the hearing. I see a pattern attempting to be inflicted on the committee, and we are simply not going to tolerate that. You may proceed.
▶ 0:53:21Mr. Hegseth: To bring back war fighting, if confirmed, I am going to work with president trump and this committee to restore the warrior ethos to the pentagon and throughout our fighting forces. In doing so, we will reestablish trust in our military, addressing the recruiting, retention and readiness crisis in our ranks. >> [yelling]
▶ 0:53:51Chair Wicker: Members of the security force will remove them.
▶ 0:54:06Mr. Hegseth: The strength of our military is our unity and our shared purpose, not our differences. Number two, we are going to we build ourour defense industrial, reforming the acquisitions process, no more valley of death for a companies, modernizing our nuclear triad, ensuring the
▶ 0:54:37Mr. Hegseth: Pentagon can pass an audit and rapidly fielding emerging technology. Number three, we are going to reestablish deterrence. We will defend our homeland, our borders and our skies. Second, we will work with our partners and allies to deter aggression in the indo pacific from the communist chinese. We will responsibly end wars to ensure we prioritize our resources to reorient to larger threats.
▶ 0:55:05Mr. Hegseth: We can no longer count on reputational deterrence. We need real deterrence. The department of defense under donald trump will achieve peace through strength and in pursuing these america first national security goals will remain patriotically apolitical and stridently constitutional. Unlike the current administration, politics should play no role in military matters.
▶ 0:55:37Mr. Hegseth: We are not republicans, we are not democrats, we are american warriors. Our standards will be high and they will be equal, not equitable. That is a very different word.
▶ 0:55:51Mr. Hegseth: We need to make sure every warrior is fully qualified on their system and every pilot is qualified and current on the aircraft they are flying in every general or flag officer is selected for leadership or promotion purely based on performance, readiness, and merit. Leaders at all levels will be held accountable in war fighting and lethality and the readiness of the troops and their families will be our only focus.
▶ 0:56:23Mr. Hegseth: This has been my focus ever since I first put on the uniform as a young army rotc cadet at princeton university in 2001. I joined the military because I love my country and felt an obligation to defend it. I served with incredible americans in guantanamo bay, in iraq, afghanistan, and in the streets of washington, D.C., many of which are with me today.
▶ 0:56:53Mr. Hegseth: This includes enlisted soldiers I hope to become american citizens and muslim allies I hope to immigrate from iraq and afghanistan, because when I took up the uniform, my mission never stopped. It is true and has been acknowledged that I don't have a similar biography to defense secretaries of the last 30 years .
▶ 0:57:16Mr. Hegseth: But as president trump also told me, we repeatedly place people atop the pentagon was supposedly the right credentials, whether they are retired generals, academics or defense contractor executives, and where has it gotten us? He believes, and I humbly agree, that it is time to get someone with dust on his boots the home, a change agent, someone with no vested interest in certain companies or specific programs or approved narratives.
▶ 0:57:45Mr. Hegseth: My only special interest is the war fighter. Deterring wars and if called upon winning wars by ensuring our warriors never enter a fair fight. We let them win and we bring them home. Like many of my generation, I have been there and lead troops in combat and been on patrol four days.
▶ 0:58:08Mr. Hegseth: I have pulled the trigger down rage -- range, called in close support, dodged ied's, pulled out dead bodies and knelt before a battlefield cross. This is not academic for me. This is my life. I led then, and I will leave now .
▶ 0:58:34Mr. Hegseth: Ask anyone who has ever worked for me or with me, I know what I don't know. My success as a leader and I very much look forward to discussing my organization's successes and I am incredibly proud of the work that we have done.
▶ 0:58:54Mr. Hegseth: But might success as a leader has always been setting a clear vision, hiring people smarter and more capable than me, empowering them to succeed, holding everyone accountable, and driving toward clear metrics. Build the plan, work the plan and work harder than everyone else around me. I have sworn an oath to the constitution before and if confirmed, I will probably do it again, this time for the most important deployment of my life.
▶ 0:59:24Mr. Hegseth: I pledge to be a faithful partner to this committee, taking input and respecting oversight. We share the same goals, a ready at lethal military, the health and well-being of our troops, and a strong and secure america. Thank you for the time, and I look forward to your questions.
▶ 0:59:45Chair Wicker: Thank you very much, Mr. hegseth. I would like to remind my colleagues that consistent with a bipartisan staff agreement from december and in concert with exactly how this committee be recognized for one round of seven minutes to question the nominee. I would respect of time for all members of the committee, time limits will be tightly enforced.
▶ 1:00:13Chair Wicker: We have nominated 45 minutes and I think we have done very well with the time. At this point, I will begin my questioning of the nominee. Mr. had sex -- Mr.
▶ 1:00:30Chair Wicker: Had s hegseth, you have had criticism since you were announced in sexual assault, alcohol abuse, financial mismanagement during your time as a nonprofit executive. I should note that the majority of these have come from anonymous sources in liberal media publications. I am going to give you an opportunity to respond to these allegations, sir.
▶ 1:01:02Mr. Hegseth: Mr. chairman, thank you for the opportunity. You are correct, we undertook this responsibility with obligation to the troops to do right by them for our war fighters and what, there was a coordinated smear campaign orchestrated in the media against us. That was clear from moment one. And what we knew was it wasn't about me.
▶ 1:01:32Mr. Hegseth: Most of it was about president donald trump, who has had to endure the very same thing for much longer amounts of time that he -- and he endured it in an incredibly strong ways. We knew it was coming but we didn't understand the depth of dishonesty that would come with it. Story after story in the left-wing media, you saw anonymous source after anonymous source based on a second or third hand accounts.
▶ 1:01:58Mr. Hegseth: Time and time again, stories would come out and people would reach out to me and say, I have spoken to this reporter about who you really are and was willing to go on the record, but they didn't print my quote. They didn't print any of my quotes.
▶ 1:02:17Mr. Hegseth: Or, I have worked with you for 10 years are I was your accountant or chief operating officer, board member, or I was with you on 100 different tour stops for concerned veterans of america. No one called me. No one asked about your conduct on the record or off the record.
▶ 1:02:37Mr. Hegseth: Instead, a small handful of anonymous sources were allowed to drive a smear campaign and agenda about me because our left wing media in america today, sadly, doesn't care about the truth peered all they were out to do, Mr. chairman, -- truth. All they were out to do, Mr. chairman, is destroying me because donald trump empowered me to bring the defense department back to what it should be, which is war fighting.
▶ 1:03:07Mr. Hegseth: I am willing to endure these attacks. But I will stand up for the truth and for my reputation. False attacks, anonymous attacks, repeated ad nauseam and printed as note -- add now seem as facts.
▶ 1:03:22Mr. Hegseth: We have provided with the committee and you will share, on the record statement after statement people who have served with me, work with me at fox news, concerned vets, you name it, from the top of the change to the bottom who say I treat them with respect, kindness, dignity. That is men, women, black, white, every background. I have prided myself as a leader of respecting people being professional. That is the balance.
▶ 1:03:52Mr. Hegseth: I am not a perfect person, as has been acknowledged, saved by the grace of god, by jesus and jenny. I am not a perfect person, but redemption is real and god forge me in ways I know I am prepared for and I am honored by the people standing and sitting behind me and I look forward to meeting this pentagon on behalf of the war fighters.
▶ 1:04:17Chair Wicker: Thank you, Mr. hegseth. I am sure many americans watching would say they have had that redemption. I know it involves a bearing of the soul so thank you. I have a plan and I think you read it and issued a plan for freedoms forge, which you have also had a chance to look at.
▶ 1:04:44Chair Wicker: You have noted correctly that the current defense spending falling below 3% of the gbd -- gdp is a threat to national security and you said building the strongest military in the world cannot be done on the cheap. You still agree with that?
▶ 1:05:04Mr. Hegseth: Yes, I do.
▶ 1:05:06Chair Wicker: So tell us what you think about -- particularly about my plan to make the defense department less bureaucratic, top-heavy, cut out some of the bureaucracy and make it more friendly to startups and new ideas contained in my 20 or so page white paper defending freedoms forge.
▶ 1:05:35Mr. Hegseth: Senator, I have had a chance to read that and those are the exact ideas that need to be pursued, and I look forward to working with this committee to ensure we cut the red tape, we incentivize innovation, rebuild the defense industrial base, cut out the bureaucracy, all of the things that are preventing platforms and tools getting from our great defense companies and those that want to compete into the hands of war fighters.
▶ 1:06:05Mr. Hegseth: But I would look at what president trump did after the drawdowns after president obama. President trump rebuild our military. He didn't start wars and he ended them and didn't allow wars to start on his watch.
▶ 1:06:22Mr. Hegseth: We had the same kind of defense cuts under the biden administration and I would present the committee the reputation of donald trump in me coming alongside him to ensure we have peace through strength by rebuilding our military, investing as necessary and going under 3% is very dangerous.
▶ 1:06:39Chair Wicker: Tell us and get us started talking about deterring china.
▶ 1:06:47Mr. Hegseth: It starts with priorities for the 2017 national defense strategy was the first step in reorienting single entanglement in the middle east in reorienting the pentagon toward new priorities, specifically the indo-pacific.
▶ 1:07:08Mr. Hegseth: It was started and barely follow through on in the biden administration and will start by ensuring the institution understands that as threats abroad, the ccp is front and center come in obviously defending our homeland as well.
▶ 1:07:20Chair Wicker: Thank you very much,. Senator reed, you are up.
▶ 1:07:31Sen. Reed: : many of my members would like a second round. That has been the custom, senator hagel was afforded three rounds and that was done by a republican chairman with the consent with the appropriate guidance of the democrats. My recollection is I have never denied anyone the opportunity for a second round of questions and I would request a second round.
▶ 1:08:09Chair Wicker: If the timekeeper will pause the time. I think we are going to have adequate time for questioning. I know democrat members have coordinated questions as much as we have. We are following the same exact precedent on all things that we did with secretary austen.
▶ 1:08:41Chair Wicker: I respectfully understand what you are saying, but I think we have an agreement and it has been known for quite some time and I am going to stick with the agreement that we made last december. What is your second request?
▶ 1:08:54Sen. Reed: You and I have both seen the fbi background investigation of Mr. hegseth. I believe the investigation was insufficient. There is fbi obligations to talk to people. They have not had access to the forensic audit which I had reference to in the person I referenced was quite critical of Mr. hegseth.
▶ 1:09:25Sen. Reed: I think people on both sides have suggested they get the report. I know your colleagues have asked for it and senator thune assured me he thought it was an appropriate idea. I would ask, and I would say as the precedent, when a president trump's appointee said similar complicated personal issues in the report was made available to everyone.
▶ 1:09:53Sen. Reed: And I ask that that be made available.
▶ 1:09:58Chair Wicker: There has been much discussion about this, and what I intend to do is follow the exact precedent that we have had for the last two hearings with regard to secretaries of defense, not only secretary austen but secretary mattis eight years ago. And that was for the chair and the ranking member to see the report.
▶ 1:10:26Chair Wicker: And so that is my intention as chair of this committee.
▶ 1:10:31Sen. Reed: , finally, Mr. chairman, I have several -- letters, one from retired for tar -- four-star generals critical.
▶ 1:10:48Sen. Reed: One from domestic violence office, one from a counsel on american relations, and also several letters that raise questions. I would ask they be submitted.
▶ 1:11:05Chair Wicker: Without objection, they will be submitted. And Mr. reed, your time has not expired. Just kidding. You are recognized for seven minutes.
▶ 1:11:17Sen. Reed: Thank you, you are very understanding chairman. I like that. Mr. hegseth, it is written, fire any general who has -- agenda driven transformation for our military. Clean house and start over.
▶ 1:11:39Sen. Reed: It has come to my attention that current serving military personnel have received emails threatening them with being fired for supporting the current dod policies. One mail sent with the subject line "clean house kunkel reminiscent of your comment.
▶ 1:12:00Sen. Reed: And it says with the incoming administration looking to remove disloyal, corrupt, traitorous, liberal officers, such as yourself, we will certainly be putting your name into the list of those personnel to be removed and we know you support the book policies and we will ensure you never again influence anyone in the future. You and the redacted spouse's name will be luckily -- lucky to get your military retirement.
▶ 1:12:36Sen. Reed: These date back decades to the 1940's and 1950's with racial discrimination particularly and administrations of both parties, including the trump administration and the first party cost of those policies to be enforced. Mr. hegseth, are you aware these emails being sent to officers?
▶ 1:12:56Mr. Hegseth: Senator, you mention the word accountability, which is something we have not had for the last four years.
▶ 1:13:04Sen. Reed: Are you aware of these being sent officers?
▶ 1:13:07Mr. Hegseth: Certainly I am not aware that and it has not been for me. They would all of afghanistan is precisely why we are here. Leadership has been unwilling to take accountability. It is time to restore that to the most senior ranks.
▶ 1:13:24Sen. Reed: You have written that dei policies are a distraction . Do you believe emails sent by that essentially threatening both a serving officer and spouse claiming they will lose their pension will have a distraction and detract from lethality?
▶ 1:13:46Mr. Hegseth: Senator, you mention the 1940's and 1950's, and you are right. The military was a forerunner in the way no other institution. I served with all people of all backgrounds. The de I policies of today are not the same as what happened back then.
▶ 1:14:09Mr. Hegseth: They are deriding troops inside formations, causing commanders to walk on eggshells -- they are dividing troops inside formations, causing commanders to walk on eggshells and that is why we are having this conversation.
▶ 1:14:24Sen. Reed: All of your public comments don't talk about meritocracy they talk about efforts destroying the military, that those people are enemies. That is not meritocracy, that is a political view come in your goal as I see is to politicize the military in favor of your particular positions which you've outlined extensively which would be the worst to the professionals of
▶ 1:14:56Sen. Reed: The united states military, and undercut readiness, undercut retention, the guy -- because I can see officers receiving these emails wondering very seriously if they should continue. You've been instrumental in securing targets for several convicted war criminals.
▶ 1:15:21Sen. Reed: At least two of these cases, the military personnel who served in combat these convicted servicemembers were not supportive. They did their duty as soldiers to report war crimes. Her definition of lethality seems to embrace those people who do commit war crimes, rather than those who stand up and say this is not right.
▶ 1:15:49Sen. Reed: So what is your response to service members who personally witnessed these and courageously reported them?
▶ 1:15:57Mr. Hegseth: As someone who has led men in combat directly and had to make every difficult decisions, I fought very deeply about the balance between legality and lethality, ensuring that a man and women on the front lines had the opportunity to destroy with and close the enemy and that lawyers are not the ones getting in the way. I'm not talking about disavowing the loss of war or the geneva conventions or the uniform code of military justice.
▶ 1:16:23Mr. Hegseth: I'm talking about restrictive rules of engagement that these men and women behind me understand, they've lived with on the battlefield which has made it more difficult to defend our enemies. In many of the cases were talking about in particular, there was evidence withheld. There was prosecutorial misconduct and as someone who looks case-by-case and defaults to the war fighter, to the men and women with dust on their boots, not the second guessers in air-conditioned offices of washington, D.C. -- >> excuse me.
▶ 1:16:52Mr. Hegseth: I was proud to work with president trump to understand those cases and ensure that our warriors are always looked out for. >> those cases adjudicated by who, people in washington or fellow noncommissioned officers who had also served and sacrificed and believed in the epic of the military? Who were the court marshals?
▶ 1:17:13Mr. Hegseth: In multiple cases they were actually acquitted. >> some cases, yes. Somewhere, but others were convicted and you asked to pardon them. That's the only reason you asked for a pardon, because they were convicted. But the other factor is you were already disparaged in writing the geneva convention, the rule of law, all of these things.
▶ 1:17:39Mr. Hegseth: How would you be able to effectively lead a military in which one of the principal elements is discipline, respect for lawful authority. You've made statements to your platoon after buying -- being grieved by a jag officer. By the way, you explain what a jagged officer is?
▶ 1:18:00Mr. Hegseth: I don't think I need to. >> why not?
▶ 1:18:03Mr. Hegseth: The men and women watching understand. >> perhaps some of my colleagues don't understand.
▶ 1:18:09Mr. Hegseth: It would be a jag officer who puts his or her own priorities in front of the war fighters. Their promotions, their medals in front of those were making the call on the tough lines. >> thank, Mr. chairman, and welcome, Mr.hegseth to you and to your family. We talked about a number of things.
▶ 1:18:38Mr. Hegseth: First and foremost was that nuclear weapons are foundational to our national defense, and having a safe, effective and credible nuclear deterrent underpins our alliances and as you know, it our adversaries. Nuclear deterrence has been, and you and I have I believe agreed on this, must continue to be unequivocally the highest priority mission of the department of defense.
▶ 1:19:08Mr. Hegseth: But deterrence only works if our adversaries believe our nuclear forces are effective and credible. All three legs of our triad are undergoing that generational recapitalization around programs and we cannot afford any more delays in those programs.
▶ 1:19:28Mr. Hegseth: Sir, do you believe and agree with president trump's 2018 nuclear review that preventing adversary nuclear attacks is "the highest priority of the united states?"
▶ 1:19:41Mr. Hegseth: Yes I do. >> if confirmed will you commit to supporting all three legs of the nuclear triad and use every tool available to deliver these systems on schedule?
▶ 1:19:56Mr. Hegseth: Senator, yes I do because ultimately our deterrence, our survival is reliant upon the capability, the perception, and the reality of the capability of an nuclear triad. We have to invest in its modernization for the defense of their nation. >> former secretaries stated that nuclear deterrence is the highest priority but we haven't really seen that translated into budget requests, or using tools like the defense production act.
▶ 1:20:28Mr. Hegseth: You've spoken about increasingly family. You've spoken about getting programs on faster. How would you actually implement a culture change so that we can see these delivery schedules move forward, the rewarded? I can tell you it in most every briefing we have, the schedules were too late.
▶ 1:20:54Mr. Hegseth: Ultimately I would focus first on the things most important, the nuclear triad. Understanding whether it is the v 21 for the minuteman to the sentinel, submarines, ballistic missiles. What are the priorities that need to be focused on can ensure that in these particular cases, you mentioned it, the defense production act. Emergency powers.
▶ 1:21:18Mr. Hegseth: If our nuclear capabilities were to be received as not what they are, that is an emergency and we have an ally in our incoming commander-in-chief who has spoken about these things, understands the power and strength of nuclear deterrence. >> is the existential threat to this nation. How do you change the culture. It's not just the production act that is going to be able to do it. How are you going to be able to move forward faster?
▶ 1:21:45Mr. Hegseth: Competition is critically important. Leveraging the innovation of silicon valley which for the first time in generations has shown a willingness, desire and capability to bring its best technologies to bear at the pentagon, a pentagon that has become too insular. Tries to block new technologies from coming in.
▶ 1:22:06Mr. Hegseth: So we have to embrace that, some great office of strategic capital, initiatives that provide loans to companies to participate because you have to invest in the defense industrial base for the longer-term projects. The capability of missiles and munitions, but also to rapidly field emerging technologies that we need on the battlefield right now.
▶ 1:22:28Mr. Hegseth: So as we learned in the war in ukraine, those technologies find ways to rapidly field those using off-the-shelf technologies or standard designs, modular designs. Another easy one that became evident in the process is digital designs. Pentagon often built entire systems without first using a digital design which means you build prototypes and then scrap them and start over again.
▶ 1:22:57Mr. Hegseth: No private sector business can survive doing business that way. So there's a lot of innovation and I'm going to hire, a lot of smart people already have to help with that. >> in the 2025 ndaa, it was established to a new position, the assistant secretary of defense for nuclear deterrence chemical and biological defense policy programs.
▶ 1:23:21Mr. Hegseth: That was established so we could cut through a lot of the bureaucratic stovepipes that we see in the office of the secretary of defense. If confirmed, when you direct the department of defense components to expeditiously implement this reform?
▶ 1:23:38Mr. Hegseth: I would want to look directly at what that reform is. >> it is great.
▶ 1:23:45Mr. Hegseth: I take your word it is great and I look forward to implement it. >> during the first trump administration, the 2018 nuclear posture review concluded that the U.S.
▶ 1:23:57Mr. Hegseth: Needed to once again develop and deploy a nuclear arms cruise missile to offset significant russian and chinese advantages in nuclear range capabilities. Since then, congress on a strong, bipartisan basis has directed the navy and the national nuclear security administration to continue this effort. Do you support this program?
▶ 1:24:28Mr. Hegseth: As of right now based on what I know, I do. But one of my enters I will have repeatedly throughout this morning it's getting an opportunity to look under the hood, classify material, given understanding of true capabilities and enemy capabilities. Because what we know right now on the nuclear side is that russia and china are rushing to modernize and build arsenals larger than ours.
▶ 1:24:55Mr. Hegseth: We need to match the capabilities and the systems we elevate will be tied to whether those capabilities are based on the adversaries we face. >> when you ensure that this program is executed according to law?
▶ 1:25:09Mr. Hegseth: Absolutely, senator. >> what is your plan to revitalize the industrial base in this country? >> used to be real short.
▶ 1:25:25Mr. Hegseth: Serious investment, targeted at systems that we truly need by also incentivizing competition and laser focus from the ost, the office of secretary defense to revive them so it is not just one system, it is multiple systems. >> you may want to expand on that on the record.
▶ 1:25:51Mr. Hegseth: At this point in my comments I would ask unanimous consent to enter into the record a letter organized by a group called flag officers for america. Which has 120 retired general and andrew offering their support for this nomination. I ask unanimous consent without objection it is entered into the record. >> good morning.
▶ 1:26:21Mr. Hegseth: I was pleased when I was contacted on your behalf about meeting before this hearing. I've been on this committee since 2011, and during that time I voted to confirm six nominees to be secretary of defense from three administrations. Two democratic and one republican. The first trump administration. Every one of those nominees met with me and my democratic colleagues on this committee before the hearing.
▶ 1:26:48Mr. Hegseth: So as you can imagine I was disappointed when no one ever followed up when we followed up with your office. You are not able to meet. Do you understand that if you are confirmed to be secretary of defense, that you will have a responsibility to meet with all members of this committee, not just republicans?
▶ 1:27:05Mr. Hegseth: Senator, I very much appreciate and understand the traditionally bipartisan nature of this committee. National defense is not partisan, it should not be about republicans or democrats. I look forward to working together with you and your colleagues on priorities facing this. >> I think we would expect that. And one reason I wanted to meet with you was because I thought it would be really helpful to better understand your views on women in the military.
▶ 1:27:34Mr. Hegseth: Because you've made a number of surprising statements about women serving in the military. As recently as november 7, 2024 on the sean ryan show, you said and I quote "I'm straight up saying that we should not have women in combat roles. It hasn't made us more effective." the quote went on a little longer but that was the gist of it. That was before you were nominated to be secretary of defense.
▶ 1:28:03Mr. Hegseth: Do you know what percentage of our military is comprised of women?
▶ 1:28:08Mr. Hegseth: I believe it is 18%-20%. >> it is almost 18% and in fact the 2023 demographic report indicated that there are more won serving now and there are fewer separations, so they make up a critical part of our military, would you agree?
▶ 1:28:26Mr. Hegseth: Yes ma'am, women in our military as I have said publicly have and continue to make amazing contributions across all aspects of our battlefield. >> you also write in your book " war on warriors" with the chapter the deadly obsession with women warriors that "not only are women comparatively less effective than men in combat roles, but they are more likely to be objectified by the enemy and their own nation on the moral grounds of war.
▶ 1:28:57Mr. Hegseth: Should we take it to believe that you believe that the two women on this committee who served honorably and with distinction made our military less effective and less capable?
▶ 1:29:07Mr. Hegseth: I'm incredibly grateful for the two women who serve our military in uniform and including in the central intelligence agency, contributions on the battlefield. Indispensable contributions. I would like to clarify what I'm talking about that issue, it's not about the capabilities of men and women, it's about standards. In this committee has talked a lot about standards.
▶ 1:29:32Mr. Hegseth: Standards that we unfortunately over time have seen eroded in certain duty positions, certain schools, certain places which affects readiness, which is what I care about the most. >> I appreciate that. However, your statements publicly have not been to that effect. After your nomination you did state to reporters that you "support all women serving in a military today." we do a fantastic job across the globe including combat.
▶ 1:30:04Mr. Hegseth: So what I'm confused about, Mr. hegseth, which is it? Why should women dinner military, if you would secretary of defense, believe that they would have a fair shot and equal opportunity to rise through the ranks, if on the one hand you say that women are not competent, they make our military less effective, and on the other hand you say now that I've been nominated to be the secretary of defense, I've changed my view on women in the military.
▶ 1:30:31Mr. Hegseth: What do you have to say to the almost 400,000 women who are serving today about your position on whether they should be capable to rise to the highest ranks of their military?
▶ 1:30:43Mr. Hegseth: I would say I would be honored to have the opportunity to serve alongside you, shoulder to shoulder, men and women, black, white, all backgrounds with a shared purpose. Our differences are not what define us. Our unity and our shared purpose is what defines us and they will be treated fairly and with agony, honor and respect just like every man and woman in uniform. Just like the men and women that I've worked with my veterans >>.
▶ 1:31:15Mr. Hegseth: I appreciate your 11th hour conversion but for the record I would like to submit chapter five, the deadly obsession with women warriors for the record. Mr. hegseth.
▶ 1:31:24Chairman Wicker: Without objection it will be submitted. >> are you familiar with the women peace and security agenda the department of defense?
▶ 1:31:32Mr. Hegseth: Yes ma'am, I am. >> this was a law that was signed during president electrons first-term that I sponsored with a republican senator of west virginia, cosponsored by marco rubio, the nominee to be the president-elect secretary of state, who has lent in the house of representatives by kristi noem, the nominee to beat the secretary of homeland security.
▶ 1:31:57Mr. Hegseth: It mandates that women be included in all aspects of our national security, including conflict resolution and peace negotiations, and that the department of defense, it has been the law for eight years under both the trump and biden administration's, the dod has incorporated women throughout its decision-making as a result.
▶ 1:32:18Mr. Hegseth: Every single combatant commander across to administrations has told this committee that this law and its implementation at the department of defense provides them strategic advantage operationally. Based on your comments, it appears that the example that you would like to set not only for women in this country, but for women across the globe, 50% of the world population at the prospective nominee to lead the most combat credible military in the entire world is that women
▶ 1:32:52Mr. Hegseth: Should not have an equal opportunity in our military. So will you commit to preserving the women peace insecurity law at dod and including in your budget the requisite funding to continue to restore and resource these programs throughout the dod?
▶ 1:33:09Mr. Hegseth: Senator, I will commit to reviewing that program and ensuring aligns with america first national security priorities, meritocracy, lethality and readiness. And if it advances american interests, it is something we would advance. If it doesn't, it is something we must end. >> since former president trump signed the law, I hope that he agrees with you.
▶ 1:33:34Chairman Wicker: At this point I would ask unanimous consent to enter into the record five letters of support from female service members and combat veterans who support the nomination. These represent the first viewpoint from the retired colonel with over 25 years of service, active duty navy service, warfare commander to a senior airman who support Mr.
▶ 1:33:59Chairman Wicker: Hegseth and his focus on merit war fighting readiness, and the warrior ethos. So without objection, it will be entered into the record. And now, I'm honored to recognize senator cotton for seven minutes. >> let's continue on this line of questioning about what we sometimes referred to as women in combat. I think that phrase is something of a misnomer.
▶ 1:34:29Chairman Wicker: Many members of this committee have served in combat in the last 25 years, which include women and men. I'm sure all these men served with women, where they were military police officers for they were pilots or whether they were intelligent analysts or what have you. I assume you served with women when you were on the front lines as well. Amber those women anything other than skilled, brave and honorable in their service?
▶ 1:34:56Mr. Hegseth: They were some of the best soldiers I work with. >> women have been serving in combat units like infantry battalion for a long time, roles like medics or mechanics. So what we're talking about specifically is women in ground combat roles. In jobs like infantrymen or artillerymen or special forces that until about 10 years ago, that wasn't the case. Those roles were opened up to women to serve in.
▶ 1:35:28Mr. Hegseth: As president trump indicated at all that he plans to rescind or alter that guidance?
▶ 1:35:33Mr. Hegseth: You are correct to point out that these are the decisions of the commander-in-chief and have the prerogative to make. He's not indicated to me that he has plans to change whether or not women would have access to these roles. However, I would point out ensuring that standards are equal and high is of importance to him and of great importance to me, because in those ground combat roles, what is true is that the weight of the ruck on your back is in change, the weight of the 155 that you have to carry doesn't change.
▶ 1:36:04Mr. Hegseth: The weight of the 240 bravo machine gun you might have to carry doesn't change. So whether it is a man or a woman they have to meet the same high standards. And senator, in any place where those things have been eroded or in courses where criteria have been changed, in order to meet quotas, racial quotas for gender quotas, that is putting the focus on something other than readiness standards, meritocracy and lethality.
▶ 1:36:33Mr. Hegseth: That is the kind of review I'm talking about, not whether women have access to ground combat. >> you expect no change in guidance but as you point out, in these specific jobs there are irreducible physical demands. We expect our intelligent analysts and our mechanics to be physically fit, but it is different when you are in the infantry or artillery. Let me point out artillery shell weighs almost 100 pounds.
▶ 1:37:02Mr. Hegseth: A tank around weighing around 50 pounds. Bravo machine gun weighs almost 50 pounds. The average weight of a full kit , ammo, water, camo, body armor is over 100 pounds. Nothing you can do can change any of those things, that is the physical reality.
▶ 1:37:23Mr. Hegseth: Yes, senator. And I would say the requirements to handle those things in a ground combat unit can look different than those of a medic or a drone pilot. So it's not that it has to be the same standard throughout, it is standards to maximize efficacy of that particular decision. >> let me read a quote from one army officer.
▶ 1:37:46Mr. Hegseth: While it may be difficult for a 120 pound woman to lift or drag 250 pounds, the army cannot artificially absolve women of that responsibility that may still exist in the battlefield. The entire purpose of creating a gender-neutral test this to acknowledge the reality that each job has an objective physical standard to which all soldiers should be held regardless of gender. The intent was not to ensure that women and men will have an equal likelihood of meeting those standards.
▶ 1:38:16Mr. Hegseth: I assume based on your testimony you agree with that. >> absolutely. The standards need to be the same and they need to be high, and they need to be set by the people closest to the problems. Closest to the understanding of what is required by that job. Commanders, commanding officers elsewhere understand the reality of what they face, that is the feedback we should get.
▶ 1:38:38Mr. Hegseth: That is what should be enshrined and enforced and no other set of political prerogatives, when I talk about removing politics, ideological politics should contribute to those determinations. Nothing other than the execution of the mission. >> thank you. The record, that army of captain kristin greased, a female officer and one of the first female ranger school graduates. One final point, he said they need to be objective, gender-neutral and high.
▶ 1:39:08Mr. Hegseth: That is because the demands are, in fact, very high. The current physical fitness test of the army has a minimum two mile run of 22 miles. "run.": "run." I want the reporter to note that I am putting run in air quotes because 22 miles at two miles is not running. This probably jogging. Let's move on. 22 minutes.
▶ 1:39:38Mr. Hegseth: We've got a big audience here. Many of them seem to be patriotic supporters of you, some of them seem to be liberal critics of you. I would note that it is only the liberal quick -- critics have disrupted the searing, as was my custom during the administration, I want to give you a chance to respond to a center that you. I think the first one accused you of being a christian scientist. I'm not really sure what that is . I'm a christian, I'm a scientist.
▶ 1:40:08Mr. Hegseth: Zionism is that the jewish people deserve a homeland in the ancient holy land where they've lived since the dawn of history. When you consider yourself a christian zionist?
▶ 1:40:18Mr. Hegseth: I am a christian and I robustly support the state of israel and its existential offense and the way america comes alongside them. >> another protester, and I think this one was a member of code pink which by the way is a chinese communist front group these days said that you support israel's war in gaza. I support israel's existential war in gaza. I assume like many and president trump to support that were as well.
▶ 1:40:46Mr. Hegseth: I do, I support israel destroying and killing every last member of thomas. >> and the third protester said something about 20 years of genocide, I assume that is our wars in iraq and afghanistan, do you think our troops are coming genocide?
▶ 1:41:02Mr. Hegseth: I do not. Our troops, as you know, and so many in this committee no did the best they could with what they had. Tragically, the outcome in afghanistan under the biden administration put a stain on that, but it doesn't put a stain on what those men and women in uniform as we know full well. >> thank you. .
▶ 1:41:23Chairman Wicker: Thank you, senator cotton. At this point I ask unanimous consent to offer to the record, son of former city council president of iraq, who worked with Mr. hegseth in iraq. Without objection that will be entered. Senator gillibrand.
▶ 1:41:49Chairman Wicker: >> I do want to thank you for your service, and they want to thank you for your willingness to serve in this capacity. I have many concerns about your record, and particularly your public statements. Because they are so hurtful to the men and women who are currently serving in the U.S. military. Harmful to morale, harmful to good order and discipline. If you are saying that women shouldn't be serving in the military, and they want to redo your quotes because the quotes themselves are terrible.
▶ 1:42:21Chairman Wicker: You will have to change how you see women to do this job well and I don't know if you are capable of that, so I want to press on these issues that my colleagues brought up because she said it so well. First of all, you answered your questionnaire, do you believe that any american who wants to serve their country in the military and can meet objective standards set by the military should be allowed to serve without the mentation? He said yes to that question. Then in all of these other circumstances you've denigrated active duty service members.
▶ 1:42:51Chairman Wicker: We have hundreds, hundreds of women who are currently in the infantry. Lethal members of our military serving in the infantry, but you degrade them. You say we need moms, but not in the military. Especially in combat units.
▶ 1:43:07Chairman Wicker: So specific to senator kotten's question, senator cotton was giving you layups to differentiate between different types of combat, and specifically as secretary when you take any action to reinstitute the combat arms exclusion for female service members?
▶ 1:43:26Chairman Wicker: Knowing full well you have hundreds of women doing that job right now, and the standards, your two mile run is about the army combat fitness test, it is not the requirements to have an mos 11 bravo, which is the infantry. These are the requirements today for people serving in industry, men and women. They are gender-neutral and they are very difficult to me.
▶ 1:43:52Chairman Wicker: They've not been reduced in any way, and our combat units, our infantry is lethal. So please explain specifically because you will be in charge of 3 million personnel. It is a big job, and when you make these public statements, and I get you are not secretary of defense then, I get you were on tv, I get you are helping veterans, I get it was a different job but most recently you said this in november of 2024 knowing full well you might have been named as secretary of defense.
▶ 1:44:23Chairman Wicker: So please explain these types of statements because they are brutal and they are mean and they disrespect men and women who are willing to die for this country.
▶ 1:44:32Mr. Hegseth: Senator, I appreciate your comments and I would point out I've never disparaged women serving in the military. I respect every single female servicemember that has put on the uniform past and present. My critiques recently and in the past and from personal experience has been instances where I've seen standards lowered, and you mention 11 alpha, 11 bravo mos.
▶ 1:45:00Mr. Hegseth: Places in units, and the book that has been referenced multiple times here, the war on warriors, I spent months talking to active-duty service members, men and women, low and high ranks, combat arms and not combat arms and what each and every one of them told me and which personal instances have showed me is that in ways direct, indirect, overt and subtle, standards have been changed inside infantry training
▶ 1:45:30Mr. Hegseth: Units, ranger school, infantry battalions to ensure that -- >> please give me an example. I get that you're making these generalized statements.
▶ 1:45:38Mr. Hegseth: In order to meet quotas to have a certain amount of female officers, that disparages those women -- >> commanders do not have to meet quotas. Commanders do not have a quota for women in the infantry. That does not exist. It does not exist. In your statements are creating the impression that these exist, they do not. There are not quotas.
▶ 1:46:02Mr. Hegseth: We want the most lethal force but I'm telling you having been here for 15 years listening to testimony about men and women in combat, the type of operations that were successful in afghanistan, and in iraq, women were essential for many of those units.
▶ 1:46:17Mr. Hegseth: When ranger units went into fiber the terrorist hiding in afghanistan or iraq, if they had a woman in the unit, they could go in, talk to the women in the village, say where are the terrorist hiding, where are the weapons hiding and get crucial information to make sure that we could win that battle. You cannot denigrate women in general and your statements do that. We don't want women in the military, especially in combat. What a terrible statement. So please, do not deny that you made those statements, you have.
▶ 1:46:49Mr. Hegseth: We take the responsibility of standards very seriously and we will work with you. I equally distressed you would not meet with me before this hearing. We could have covered all of this before you came here, so I could get to the 15 other questions I want to get to. So women you have denigrated. You've also denigrated members of the lgbtq community. Did you know that when don't ask don't tell is in place, we lost so many crucial personnel, over 1000 in mission-critical areas.
▶ 1:47:17Mr. Hegseth: We lost 10% of all our foreign-language speakers because of a political policy. You said in your statement you don't want politics in the dod. Everything you've said in these public statements as politics. I don't want women, I don't want moms. What is wrong with a mom, once you have babies you are no longer able to be lethal? You're basically saying women after they have children can ever serve in the military in a combat role. It's a silly thing to say. It's a silly thing to say. Need the position that you are aspiring to.
▶ 1:47:48Mr. Hegseth: To denigrate lgbtq service members is a mistake. If you are a sharpshooter, you are as lethal regardless of what your gender identity is, regardless of who you love. So please know this to be a true statement. You say it was a political thing, you say it undermined us social engineering. I don't know why having someone having to publicly say or not publicly say they love is social engineering.
▶ 1:48:18Mr. Hegseth: Having that policy in the first place was highly problematic and as you set your statement, the agreed anybody should be able to serve in the military if they meet standards?
▶ 1:48:25Mr. Hegseth: As the stated, I don't disagree with the overturning of don't ask don't tell. >> great, because I don't want you thinking you can't serve if you are a mom camera you can't serve if you are lgbtq. And last, you can't serve if you are a leftist.
▶ 1:48:45Mr. Hegseth: The statements you said about people who have views differently than you, that we are the enemy, are you saying that 50% of the dod if they hold liberal or leftist views or our democrats are not welcome in the military? Are you saying that? >> I volunteered to deploy to afghanistan under democratic president barack obama. I volunteered to guard joe biden but was denied the opportunity to serve because I was to divide as an extremist by my own unit for a tattoo.
▶ 1:49:16Chairman Wicker: Thank you very much. Senator gillibrand, you held up a document and referred to it during your questioning. Would you like that one entered into the record? >> we will submit a clean copy.
▶ 1:49:33Chairman Wicker: Without objection that will be admitted at the corner of your question, and I would like to enter into the record melissa cunningham supports Mr. hegseth and mentioned his warrior if those, combat effectiveness and 18 military training stand without objection. Both of these will be submitted and I now recognize senator collins. >> thank you Mr. chairman. First of all, good morning.
▶ 1:50:05Chairman Wicker: I'd like to thank you for your service to our nation and also your work on behalf of veterans to enter into this mouse from the public service. I think the presence of so many veterans who have showed up to support, I also want to recognize your family service and sacrifice that you know as well as anyone is not just a man that enters the arena, but the entire family who also works their way through this process as well.
▶ 1:50:36Chairman Wicker: I appreciated our meeting with you and with your wife jennifer this last month. I thought that we had an excellent conversation, I appreciate your statement and your answers to the advanced lc questions, especially your desire to bring a renewed focus to war fighting and lethality back to the pentagon. I also respect and I appreciate my friend and colleague senator gillibrand and some of her questions, and I know that she had a number of them in there.
▶ 1:51:06Chairman Wicker: You had an opportunity to wristband very briefly. Were there any other responses that you would like to make or clarifications that you would like to make before I move on with my questions?
▶ 1:51:15Mr. Hegseth: Thank you very much for the opportunity to meet and for the question. I would also knowledge and or mention teams, which have shown a great deal of success on the battlefield. It would be universally acknowledged as such. I've been in iraqi homes where the language and gender barrier was real and the ability to have someone there to help in that process would be a massive accelerating mission success.
▶ 1:51:45Mr. Hegseth: I recognize that. But I also recognize that female engagement teams assigned to a seal team or a green beret team meet different standards. Which is ok because the duty positions involved in that job. As far as politics, senator, it has been the joy of my life to lead men and women in military outfits. When you're in combat or in training, there's a lot of conversations that happen.
▶ 1:52:13Mr. Hegseth: You start to realize that a lot of people you're serving with sherry or political ideals or they don't. You find out there's republicans, democrats, there's libertarians, there's independents, there's vegetarians, everything in between. None of that matters. It never mattered and how I led men and women, how I interacted with them, what missions we undertook. Politics has nothing to do with the battlefield, which is why president trump has asked me to say let's make sure all of that comes out.
▶ 1:52:43Mr. Hegseth: This is about war fighting capability. Setting standards high and making sure we give our boys, our men and women everything they need to be successful on the battlefield. Politics can play no part in that and I look forward to refuting that, as we always have. >> and I appreciate you making that very clear.
▶ 1:53:03Mr. Hegseth: One of the areas that we want to do our best is to provide for the equipment, the technical capabilities so that no young man or woman enters into a battle and has a fair fight and that they always have the advantage. Those are the types of questions I would like to get into right now. I want to start by talking about something that sometimes gets a little bit in the weeds but I think it is critical.
▶ 1:53:26Mr. Hegseth: From what I've heard from 24 senior dod officials in hearings over the last two years including the secretary of defense, every service cheat and eight combatant commanders is that sharing the portion of the spectrum, and this is in the weeds, I know, but I'm going to ask to get it record, the 3.1-3.5gh band could have extremely consequences and very
▶ 1:53:57Mr. Hegseth: Costly consequences on our war fighting capabilities. In fact the department of the navy alone is estimating that relocating their systems to a different part of the spectrum band would cost them $250 billion. That is just for the destroyers that defend our coast, the radar that they have in them.
▶ 1:54:16Mr. Hegseth: If confirmed, what will you do to make sure that the department of defense can maintain its access to end the use and the able to maneuver within the electromagnetic spectrum at home and abroad, and would you be willing to literally go to the mat to protect war fighter requirements for the use of the spectrum?
▶ 1:54:37Mr. Hegseth: Thank you for the question. My job in part will be to go to the mat when necessary for things I believe are absolute requirements for the department of defense and men and women in uniform, no doubt about that. This particular case, I look forward as I've said before, because this issue has come up a number of times in meetings.
▶ 1:55:01Mr. Hegseth: It's critically important with how fire fighters communicate across all services. So I want to get a classified briefing immediately about how it would impact the spectrum. To allow other companies -- >> rest assured, china would love to have our ability to use that part of the spectrum. They would love that.
▶ 1:55:22Mr. Hegseth: Absolutely right. So I will go in with eyes only toward assuring we have the capabilities we need and there is no disruption, I take that. >> in your advanced policy questions you recognize a cooperative approach by china, russia, iran and north korea to undermine U.S. around the world. Aggression by any one actor would be an opportunity for others to engage the U.S. on multiple fronts along the continuum of the conflict.
▶ 1:55:51Mr. Hegseth: As we discussed my office, neither of us wants to send our troops into a fair fight. We want to make sure they have every advantage the united states can give them, and that requires resources and reforms. Given the growing potential of a multi-theater conflict involving adversaries, what steps would you take to prepare the department of defense to simultaneously execute interesting operations across multiple regions while maintaining readiness and deterrence globally?
▶ 1:56:21Mr. Hegseth: I just want to make it clear, we have language in fiscal year 2025 national calling for a review of the department operation plans and I just want to make sure that you are aware of that, and that if we have a fight with one, chances are that we are going to have two different battleground at the same time.
▶ 1:56:43Mr. Hegseth: Which is why I believe our country is really fortunate to have a new commander-in-chief in donald trump who through the strategic approach he has taken with allies and against foes has prevented wars and is determined to do the same. That is their chief job, deter and prevent war. My job, should I be confirmed as secretary of defense is to ensure we have the right prioritization of assets and strategy and the tools in the toolbox necessary.
▶ 1:57:16Mr. Hegseth: The point as possible sphere for president trump to wield if necessary at a last resort. So president trump at the helm I think will go a long way to making sure our enemies know there is a new sheriff in town. >> thank you, Mr. chairman. >> and thank you very much senator blumenthal. >> thanks for having this hearing. Thank you for being here.
▶ 1:57:42Mr. Hegseth: I want to join in expressing appreciation and respect for your service to our country and thanks to all the veterans who are here today and thank you for your service as a ranking member of the veterans affairs and I hope we can focus on doing better for our veterans, and doing better in management of the department of defense. There is always room for improvement.
▶ 1:58:10Mr. Hegseth: I think what we need in that position is not just better, but the best in financial management because those decisions are life and death decisions affecting the 3.4 million americans who served our national security and our national defense and put their lives on the line.
▶ 1:58:30Mr. Hegseth: I want to talk about financial mismanagement at the two organizations that you headed, which are the only test of your financial management that we have before this committee. The veterans for freedom and concern veterans for america. You took over the veterans for freedom in 2007.
▶ 1:58:54Mr. Hegseth: In 2008, you raised $8.7 million, but spent more than $9 million, creating a deficit. By january 2009, he told donors that the organization had less than $1000 in the bank and gets $434,000 by 2010, revenue at the veterans for freedom dropped to about 206 the thousand dollars.
▶ 1:59:29Mr. Hegseth: -- $265,000. In the next year it would drop further. You don't dispute these numbers, do you?
▶ 1:59:34Mr. Hegseth: I'm extremely proud of the work me and my fellow vets did at vets for freedom. A bunch of young vets with no political experience, a small group -- >> I apologize for interrupting.
▶ 1:59:49Mr. Hegseth: We raised donor funds and we have letters submitted for the record, almost everyone that work with me every sigel date including our chief operating officer will attest that every dollar we raised was used intentionally toward the execution of our mission, which was supporting the war fighters, exactly why we are here today. The war fighters in the iraq surge. There is a campaign in 2008. >> if I could just ask you another question.
▶ 2:00:18Mr. Hegseth: He believed john mccain would be the right person to win -- >> tax returns from that organization, I'm going to have to be entered into the record. >> without objection. >> these tax returns are yours. They have your signature, and I'm going to ask that members of the committee review them because they are the only documents. I've asked for others.
▶ 2:00:43Mr. Hegseth: Asked for the fbi report that would presume of the document and should have documented this kind of financial mismanagement, and these are the 990's from that organization.
▶ 2:01:02Mr. Hegseth: By the year of 2011 donors have become so dissatisfied with that mismanagement they in fact ousted you, they merged that organization with military families united, and thereafter you join a second organization as executive director.
▶ 2:01:20Mr. Hegseth: In between I went to harvard university. >> I want to ask you questions about concern veterans for america. Again, another set of tax returns. The 990 from that organization. I ask that they be part of the record. >> without objection, both of those returns are now part of the record. >> 2011-2016. At the end of 2013, shortfall of $130,000.
▶ 2:01:49Mr. Hegseth: At the end of 2014, shortfall of $428,000. We had a surplus the following year, then another deficit of $437,000. By the time you left that organization, you had deep debt, including credit card transaction debt of about $75,000. That isn't the kind of fiscal management we want at the department of defense.
▶ 2:02:16Mr. Hegseth: We can't tolerate at the department of defense. That is an organization with a budget of $850 billion. Not $10 million or $50 million which was the case at those organizations. And it has command responsibility for 2.4 million americans.
▶ 2:02:41Mr. Hegseth: The highest you managed in those two organizations with maybe 50 people. Let me ask you, how many men and women now serve in the united states army?
▶ 2:02:54Mr. Hegseth: Senator, I would like an opportunity to respond. >> concern veterans of america, I appreciate your service, the va a cabability act and the mission act were all brain children of concern veterans for america. We used our donor money area intentionally and focused to create policy that bettered the lives of veterans.
▶ 2:03:21Mr. Hegseth: >> I'm asking you a very simple question. How many men and women currently serve in the united states army?
▶ 2:03:30Mr. Hegseth: 450,000 on active duty, sir. >> and how many in the navy?
▶ 2:03:37Mr. Hegseth: 425, sir. >> 337 this year. How many in the marines?
▶ 2:03:44Mr. Hegseth: 175,000. >> 172,000. Those numbers dwarf any experience you have by many multiples. I don't believe that you can tell this committee or the people of america that you are qualified to lead them. I would support you as a spokesperson for the pentagon.
▶ 2:04:14Mr. Hegseth: I don't dispute your communications skills. But I believe that we are entitled to the facts here. I've asked for more documents. I assume you would be willing to submit to an expanded fbi background check, that interviews your colleagues, accountants, ex-wives, former spouses, sexual assault survivors and others, and enabled him to come forward.
▶ 2:04:39Mr. Hegseth: Senator, I'm not in charge of the fbi. >> but you would submit to it.
▶ 2:04:46Mr. Hegseth: I'm not in charge of fbi background checks. >> thank you, senator blumenthal. I had this point want to submit a letter from the founder of veterans for freedom, and the person who hired pete hegseth to run the organization.
▶ 2:05:05Mr. Hegseth: Although the 2008 price is right of fundraising for nonprofits, he says and I quote pete responded to this crisis by reducing staff and renegotiating all debts until they were barely resolved. A testament to pete's character, pete departed vff in 2010 to take on a new rule with concern veterans for america.
▶ 2:05:36Mr. Hegseth: Pete departed on good terms. Without objection that will be added to the record. Senator ernst, you are recognized. >> thank you Mr. chair and I ask unanimous consent to enter into the record a letter submitted by Mr. mark lucas, who is a fellow island and iowa army national guard member. Mr. lucas and I served together in the iowa army national guard.
▶ 2:06:03Mr. Hegseth: He succeeded pete headset as executive director of concern veterans for america, and in his letter, he says that Mr. hexa laid a strong foundation that postured cva for long-term success, and that he "continued to be an invaluable asset to both me as a leader and the organization." so I would ask for unanimous consent to enter this washington times article in the letter from Mr. mark lucas into the record.
▶ 2:06:37Mr. Hegseth: >> without objection. >> thank you, Mr. chair. Good morning and thank you very much. I appreciate your service to our nation. It is something that I know you are very proud of, and it is something that we have in common and that we share. You and I have had many productive conversations, and just for our audience, we've had very frank conversations, is that correct?
▶ 2:07:05Mr. Hegseth: Senator, that is a correct characterization. >> you know that I don't keep anything hidden. Pull no punches. My colleagues know that as well. So I do appreciate you sitting down and allowing me the opportunity to question you thoroughly on those issues that are of great importance to me.
▶ 2:07:29Mr. Hegseth: Just to recap those issues, three that are very important, one is the dod and making sure that we have a clean audit. The second is women in combat, and we will talk a little bit more about that in a moment. And the third with maintaining high standards and making sure that we are combating sexual assault in the military. So Mr.
▶ 2:07:54Mr. Hegseth: Hegseth, I'm going to address the issue, because this will tie into some of the financial concerns that have been raised here as well, and I'm trusting my fellow island as for unanimous consent of this letter to go into the record.
▶ 2:08:13Mr. Hegseth: But like me, a lot of iowans are really, really concerned and upset about the wasteful washington spending and of course, in our pentagon, it is an issue that I've been combating for years. So there is significant room for greater efficiency and cost within the department, and the dod is the only federal agency that has never passed an audit.
▶ 2:08:39Mr. Hegseth: As the senate caucus chair and founder that is unacceptable to me and it should be un-acceptable to you as well. So I appreciate that you mentioned that in your opening statement. What are those steps that you would take to ensuring the pentagon has a clean audit by the year 2028?
▶ 2:08:58Mr. Hegseth: I appreciate your work on this topic which you've been involved in for a long time. You mentioned concern veterans for america. I just want to clarify, we have very generous donors who set a very clear budget that we stuck to every sickly year. The latitude there was restricted and we worked very hard and diligently incited. You've also been a leader of the pentagon audit for a very long time. I think when we met I said 2014 with the first year.
▶ 2:09:27Mr. Hegseth: We discovered in 2013 op-ed I wrote about the need for it pentagon audit, because an audit is an issue of national security, and frankly, respect to american taxpayers, who give $850 billion over the defense department and expect that we know where that money goes, and if that money is going somewhere it doesn't, and instead goes to fat or tail, we need to know that. Or if it is wasted, we need to know that.
▶ 2:09:55Mr. Hegseth: Previous secretaries of defense with all due respect haven't necessarily emphasized the strategic prerogative of the audit, and myself, my deputy and others already know that the pentagon audit the comptroller, others central to ensuring that we find those dollars that can be used elsewhere legally under the law inside the pentagon. So you have my work it will be a priority.
▶ 2:10:21Mr. Hegseth: >> moving on to women in combat, I had the privilege of serving in uniform for over 23 years. Between our army reserves and are iowa army national guard, did serve in kuwait and missions in iraq.
▶ 2:10:38Mr. Hegseth: And so it is incredibly important that I stress, and I hope that if confirmed, you continue to stress that every man and woman as opportunity to serve their country in uniform and do so at any level as long as they are meeting the standards that are set forward. And we talked about that in my office. I do believe in high standards.
▶ 2:11:08Mr. Hegseth: Now, I was denied the opportunity to serve in any combat role because I have a lot of gray hair, and the policy has changed since then. I've been around for quite a while.
▶ 2:11:24Mr. Hegseth: But for the young women who are out there now and can meet those standards, and again, I will emphasize they should be very, very high standards, they must physically be able to achieve those standards, so that they can complete their mission, but I want to know, again, let's make it very clear for everyone here today, as secretary of defense, we you support women continuing to have the opportunity to serve in combat roles?
▶ 2:11:55Mr. Hegseth: First of all, thank you for your service as we discussed extensively. >> my privilege.
▶ 2:12:01Mr. Hegseth: And my answer is yes, exactly the way that you caveated. Yes, women will have access to ground combat roles given the standards remain high. And we will have a review to ensure the standards have not been lowered in any one of these cases. That will be one of the first things we do at the pentagon, reviewing that in a gender-neutral way, the standards ensuring readiness in the meritocracy is -- meritocracy is start and center.
▶ 2:12:36Mr. Hegseth: It be the privilege of a lifetime to be -- they have some of the other options and they decide to put their right hand up for a country and it would be an honor to have a chance to serve them.
▶ 2:12:49Mr. Hegseth: >> and very briefly, we've also discussed this in my office, a priority of mine has been combating sexual assault in the military, and making sure that all of our service members are treated with dignity and respect . This has been so important.
▶ 2:13:11Mr. Hegseth: Senator gillibrand and I have worked on this, and we were able to get changes made to the uniform code of military justice to make sure that we have improvements on how we address the tragic and life altering issues of rape, sexual assault. It will demand time and attention from the pentagon under your watch if you are confirmed.
▶ 2:13:39Mr. Hegseth: So as secretary of defense, will you appoint a senior level official dedicated to sexual assault prevention and response?
▶ 2:13:44Mr. Hegseth: As we've discussed, yes I will. >> my time is expired. They queue for your answers. >> Mr. hegseth, welcome. I am focused on your fitness to serve including your character and temperament and your overall qualifications to do the job. I do appreciate the comments of ranking member read.
▶ 2:14:27Mr. Hegseth: I asked the following initial questions. First, since you became a legal adult have you ever made unwanted requests for sexual favors or committed any verbal or physical harassment or assault of a sexual nature?
▶ 2:14:39Mr. Hegseth: No, senator. >> have you ever faced discipline or answered a settlement relating to this kind of conduct?
▶ 2:14:47Mr. Hegseth: Senator, I was falsely accused in october of 2017. It was fully investigated and I was completely cleared. >> I don't think completely cleared is accurate, but the fact is that your own lawyer said that you entered into an n da, and paid a person who accused you of raping her a sum of money to make sure that she
▶ 2:15:17Mr. Hegseth: Did not file the complaint. Moving on. As secretary you will be in charge of maintaining good order by enforcing the uniform code of military justice. In addition to the sexual assault allegations, the answer to the questions should have been yes. I've read multiple reports of your regular being drunk at work. Including by people who worked with you at fox news.
▶ 2:15:45Mr. Hegseth: Do you know that being drunk at work is prohibited for service members under the uc mj?
▶ 2:15:50Mr. Hegseth: Senator, those are -- >> yes or no?
▶ 2:15:54Mr. Hegseth: Multiple false anonymous supports peddled by nbc news to the dozens of men and women who I work with -- >> I'm not hearing the answer to my question. In your opening statement, Mr. hegseth, do you commit to holding leaders accountable at all levels, that includes you, of course. Frankly as secretary you will be on the job.
▶ 2:16:23Mr. Hegseth: You recently promised my republican colleagues you will stop drinking, will not drink if confirmed, correct?
▶ 2:16:31Mr. Hegseth: Absolutely. >> will you resign as secretary of defense if you drink on the job, which is a 24/seven position.
▶ 2:16:39Mr. Hegseth: I've made this commitment on behalf -- >> willie resign as secretary of defense --
▶ 2:16:45Mr. Hegseth: I've made these commitment on behalf of the men and women I'm serving -- >> I'm not hearing an answer to my question so I'm going to move on. While you have made a commitment you will not commit to resigning if you drink on the job. As secretary of defense you will swear a note to the constitution and not a note to any man, woman or president. Correct?
▶ 2:17:07Mr. Hegseth: On multiple occasions including as a young lieutenant I have sworn a note to the constitution. >> the answer is yes.
▶ 2:17:14Mr. Hegseth: Yes ma'am. >> dated june of 2020 been president trump directed mark esper to shoot protesters in the legs in downtown D.C. and order secretary esper refused to comply with. When you carry out such an order from president trump?
▶ 2:17:32Mr. Hegseth: Senator, I was in the washington, D.C. national guard unit that was in lafayette square -- >> will you carry out an order to shoot protesters in the legs?
▶ 2:17:43Mr. Hegseth: I saw secret service agents get injured by rioters trying to jump over the fence. >> that sounds to me that you would comply with such an order. You would shoot protesters and legs. Moving on. The president-elect has attacked our allies in recent weeks, refusing to rule out using military force to take over greenland and the panama canal, and threatening to make canada the 51st state.
▶ 2:18:14Mr. Hegseth: When you carry out an order from president trump to seize greenland, a territory of our nato ally, by force, or would you comply with in order to take over the panama canal?
▶ 2:18:25Mr. Hegseth: I will emphasize that president trump received 77 million votes to be the lawful commander-in-chief -- >> we are not talking about the election. My question is would you use our military to take over greenland or an ally of denmark?
▶ 2:18:44Mr. Hegseth: One of the things that president trump is so good at is never strategically tipping his hand. So I would never in this public forum give one way or another -- >> that sounds to me that you would contemplate carrying out such an order to basically invade greenland. To take over the panama canal.
▶ 2:19:08Mr. Hegseth: Current dod policy allows service members and eligible dependents to be reimbursed for travel associated with non-covert reproductive health will you maintain this commonsense policy?
▶ 2:19:25Mr. Hegseth: I've always been pro-life, I know president trump has as well. Our standard is whatever the president wants. >> so if the president tells you that this policy will not be maintained, you will not enable our service members to receive reflective care.
▶ 2:19:44Mr. Hegseth: I don't believe in our government -- >> I'm not hearing answers to my questions, Mr. chairman. I just want to note that the other area that I was seriously concerned about is president trump saying that he wants to use the military to help with mass deportation, which would cost billions of dollars and what that would do to the U.S. is very concerning. Mr. hegseth, I've noticed a disturbing pattern.
▶ 2:20:15Mr. Hegseth: You previously have made a series of inflammatory statements about women in combat, lgbtq service members, muslim americans and democrats. Since your nominations, you have walked those back on tv and in interviews and most recently in your opening statements. If you are no longer on fox and friends, Mr. hegseth.
▶ 2:20:38Mr. Hegseth: If confirmed, your words, actions and decisions would have a impacts on national security and our service members lives. There are close to 3 million personnel in the department of defense, $900 billion budget. I hardly think you are prepared to do the job. Thank you.
▶ 2:21:00Chairman Wicker: That wasn't a question, Mr. hegseth. Thank you, senator. Senator sullivan. >> thank you Mr. chairman, and Mr. hegseth. You and your family for your service and sacrifice.
▶ 2:21:18Chairman Wicker: Now for the most important question you will receive all day, in 1935 before the congress, the father of the united states air in 1935 the father of united states air force billy mitchell was testifying about a certain place in the world. He said, "I believe in the future whoever holds this place will control the world. This location is the most strategic place in the world. What place was billy mitchell talking about?
▶ 2:21:47Chairman Wicker: Let me give you a hint, it was in greenland-- wasn't greenland. [laughter]
▶ 2:21:52Mr. Hegseth: I believe he was talking by the great state of alaska.
▶ 2:21:56Sen. Sullivan: He was talking about the great state of alaska. Will you come with me to the great state of alaska to meet with the words in the front lines every day?
▶ 2:22:06Mr. Hegseth: Senator, I have, and I did a brief training exercise at fort enright in a previous part of my life and I look for to returning.
▶ 2:22:16Sen. Sullivan: I will say that we are on the front lines doing authoritarian aggression. In the last two years we have had chinese and russian naval task forces, joint strategic bomber task forces in our eez, and after his election, president trump put out an extensive statement on alaska which included the following statement, "we will ensure alaska gets even more defense investments as we fully rebuild our military, especially as
▶ 2:22:47Sen. Sullivan: Russia and china are making menacing moves in the pacific." Mr. hegseth, if confirmed, will you work with me, this committee, and the incoming commander in chief and continui to build up a military assets and infrastructure in alaska to reestablish deterrence in the arctic and in the indo pacific?
▶ 2:23:07Mr. Hegseth: If confirmed, senator, it would be a pleasure to work alongside you and this entire committee to recognize the very real threat in the indo-pacific, the very real ways even the past couple of weeks that russia has attempted to probe and push in and around alaska, and also the very real strategic significance of alaska vis-a-vis shipping lanes through the arctic.
▶ 2:23:29Mr. Hegseth: There are many, many ways in which alaska is strategically significant command with the shift toward unnecessary -- unnecessary shift towards indo paycom, alaska by necessity will play a role in that.
▶ 2:23:41Sen. Sullivan: Thank you, Mr. hegseth. I very much appreciate your focus on lethality and were fighting could we desperately needed. I wanted to provide a few examples of the biden woke military, which is not focused on readiness or lethality, I want to get your comments on it. No one wants an extremist or racist in our military, but one of the most disgraceful and shameful inc.
▶ 2:24:06Sen. Sullivan: I've seen in the past four years as a senator on his command and a marine corps reserve officer was on day one, the biden administration played up a false and insulting narrative that our military was chock-full of racists and violent extremists.
▶ 2:24:22Sen. Sullivan: This reached a pinnacle in this committee when biden's undersecretary of policy, the number three guy at the pentagon, testified that one of his top goals would be to "end violent extremism and systemic racism within the ranks of the military." he had no data on this. The media loved it, fanned the flames, wrote baloney stories on this false narrative.
▶ 2:24:51Sen. Sullivan: Disappointingly, some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle here reinforced this ridiculous narrative. One even suggested that almost 10% of our uniformed military was extremist. 200,000 members. Ridiculous, by the way, from this committee, on the other saturday I'll saturday I' that on the --on the other side of the aisle. Do you believe the military is a systemically racist organization?
▶ 2:25:20Sen. Sullivan: If confirmed, will you commit to defend, not denigrate, our troops?
▶ 2:25:26Mr. Hegseth: Senator, I was also offended by those comments because anyone who has been on active duty in the national guard command, woman --, a man, woman in units, know it is fundamentally false.
▶ 2:25:41Sen. Sullivan: By the way, there is three studies, secretary austin put out one of them, that said what you just said, fundamentally false.
▶ 2:25:49Mr. Hegseth: One could argue that if not the least, one of the least racist institutions in our country is the united states military. Being a racist in our military has not been tolerated for a very long time.
▶ 2:26:02Sen. Sullivan: One of the greatest civil-rights organizations -- would you agree, U.S. military is one of the most forward-leading, probably one of the greatest civil-rights organizations in american history?
▶ 2:26:13Mr. Hegseth: No doubt.
▶ 2:26:15Sen. Sullivan: Let me turn to another one. Last year at a hearing before this committee I called on the biden secretary of the navy to resign because he is failing in his ability to build ships. We are being completely out built in terms of ships by the chinese, and yet this is secretary of the navy has been focused on climate change, not building ships and lethality. Mr.
▶ 2:26:43Sen. Sullivan: Hegseth, if your secretary of the navy focuses more on climate change than shipbuilding and lethality, will you commit to me to fire him?
▶ 2:26:53Mr. Hegseth: My secretary of the navy, should I be confirmed, will not be focused on climate change in the navy, just like the secretary of the air force won't be focused on lg-powered fighter jets confer the secretary of the army will not be focused on electric powered tanks. We will be focused on lethality and defeating our enemy.
▶ 2:27:14Sen. Sullivan: I appreciate that. The other thing president biden didn't co-- did, his first executive order, was to focus on transgender surgeries on active-duty troops. In describing the woke military hunter biden the last four years-- under bite the last four years.
▶ 2:27:35Sen. Sullivan: If confirmed, will you rip the biden woke yoke off the neck of our military, how do you think the troops will react?
▶ 2:27:45Mr. Hegseth: Senator, I know the troops will rejoice.
▶ 2:27:48Sen. Sullivan: They will love it.
▶ 2:27:50Mr. Hegseth: And we have seen it in recruiting numbers, there has been a surgeon since president trump won the election-- surge since president trump won the election --
▶ 2:28:00Sen. Sullivan: You think the military will follow that order?
▶ 2:28:03Mr. Hegseth: A military will follow that order gladly because they want to focus on lethality and were fighting and get the woke, politically correct, social justice political stuff of the military.
▶ 2:28:16Chair Wicker: Thank you, senator sullivan. Senator kaine.
▶ 2:28:19Sen. Kaine: Thank you, Mr. hegseth. I'm looking for to this opportunity to talk. I want to refer to to the incident and monarch, california in, 2017. At that time you were still married to your second wife, correct?
▶ 2:28:36Mr. Hegseth: I believe so.
▶ 2:28:38Sen. Sullivan: Anyone fathered a
▶ 2:28:40Child -- Sen. Kaine: Anyone fathered a child a woman --
▶ 2:28:45Mr. Hegseth: I was falsely charged and completely cleared.
▶ 2:28:50Sen. Kaine: You think you were completely cleared because he committed no crime? Annoying what fathered a child by a woman who is not your wife. I'm shocked you would stand here and say you are completely cleared. Can you so casually cheat on his second wife, on the mother of a child went been born two months before come and you tell us you are completely cleared? I was at a complete clear.
▶ 2:29:16Mr. Hegseth: Senator, her name is gwendolyn hope hegseth --
▶ 2:29:23Sen. Kaine: And you cheated on the mother of that child --
▶ 2:29:28Mr. Hegseth: Those are false charges and I was completely cleared, and I'm so grateful --
▶ 2:29:33Sen. Kaine: No, you have admitted that you had sex at that hotel on october 2017. He said it was consensual, is that correct?
▶ 2:29:43Mr. Hegseth: Anything --
▶ 2:29:45Sen. Kaine: You have admitted it was consensual, and you were still married anybody a child by another woman. How do you explain your judgment?
▶ 2:29:52Mr. Hegseth: Fall stretches against me and I was completely clear --
▶ 2:29:56Sen. Kaine: You have admitted you had sex while marriage to wife two. If it was a sexual assault that would be disqualifying to be secretary of defense, wouldn't it?
▶ 2:30:11Mr. Hegseth: It was a false claim then --
▶ 2:30:14Sen. Kaine: If it had been a sexual assault, that would be disqualifying to be secretary of defense, wouldn't it?
▶ 2:30:20Mr. Hegseth: That was a false claim. Talking about hit talking about ha hypothetical.
▶ 2:30:26Sen. Kaine: You can tell me whether someone who committed sexual assault is disqualified from being secretary of defense?
▶ 2:30:32Mr. Hegseth: Senator, in my instance in my instance only, it was a false claim --
▶ 2:30:37Sen. Kaine: But you acknowledge you cheated on your wife and that you cheated on the woman by whom you are just a child? You admitted that?
▶ 2:30:46Mr. Hegseth: I will allow your words --
▶ 2:30:48Sen. Kaine: You are not retracting that, that's good. I assume in each of your weddings you pledge to be careful to your wife --faithful to your wife.
▶ 2:30:58Mr. Hegseth: Senator, as I have acknowledged, I'm not a perfect person --
▶ 2:31:02Sen. Kaine: I asked a simple question. You have taken an oath like you take an oath to be secretary defense to be faithful to your wife, is that correct?
▶ 2:31:10Mr. Hegseth: I have failed in things in my life and thankfully I'm redeemed by my lord and savior jesus christ --
▶ 2:31:17Sen. Kaine: Where their nondisclosure agreements in connection with those divorces?
▶ 2:31:24Mr. Hegseth: Not that I'm aware of.
▶ 2:31:27Sen. Kaine: Would you agree to release those first and second wives of any non-conventionality agreement --nonconfidential eddie agreement?
▶ 2:31:35Mr. Hegseth: That is not something I'm aware of.
▶ 2:31:39Sen. Kaine: Do you engage in physical violence against any of your wives?
▶ 2:31:42Mr. Hegseth: Absolutely not.
▶ 2:31:44Sen. Kaine: But you would agree that if someone had committed physical violence against a spouse, that would be disqualifying to be secretary of defense, correct?
▶ 2:31:52Mr. Hegseth: Senator, absolutely not have I ever done that.
▶ 2:31:55Sen. Kaine: You would agree that would be a disqualifying offense, would you not?
▶ 2:31:59Mr. Hegseth: Senator, you're talking about a hypothetical.
▶ 2:32:04Sen. Kaine: I don't think it is a hypothetical. Violence against spouses occur every day, and if you as a leader are not capable of saying that physical violence against a spouse should be a disqualifying fact for being secretary of the most powerful nation in the world, you are demonstrating an astonishing lack of judgment. The incident in monterey led to a criminal charge, criminal investigation, private settlement, and cash payment to the woman who filed the complaint. It was a nondisclosure agreement, correct?
▶ 2:32:33Mr. Hegseth: It was a confidential settlement agreement off of a nuisance lawsuit.
▶ 2:32:39Sen. Kaine: During an interview you claimed that you settled the matter because you were worried that if it became public, it might hurt your career. Do you maintain your blackmailed?
▶ 2:32:48Mr. Hegseth: Senator, I've maintained that false claims were made against me --
▶ 2:32:53Sen. Kaine: Your attorney --
▶ 2:32:55Mr. Hegseth: I had the opportunity to attest my innocence in those false claims.
▶ 2:33:00Sen. Kaine: You didn't reveal any of this to president trump or the transition team as they were considering you to be nominated for secretary of defense. You didn't reveal the action, you didn't reveal the criminal complaint, you didn't reveal the criminal investigation, you didn't reveal the settlement, you didn't reveal the cash payment. Why didn't you inform the commander in chief of the transition team of this very relevant event?
▶ 2:33:24Mr. Hegseth: Senator, I've appreciated every part of the process with the transition team. They have been open and honest with me, we have had great conversations between the two of us, and I appreciate the opportunity that president-elect --
▶ 2:33:37Sen. Kaine: You chose not to reveal this, right? He knew it would hurt your chances. You chose not to reveal this really important thing to the commander in chief and the transition team because you were worried about your chances rather than trying to be candid with the future president of the united states. Are there any other important facts that you chose not to reveal to the president-elect and his team as they were considering you to be secretary of defense?
▶ 2:34:02Mr. Hegseth: Senator, I sit here before you an open book, as everyone was watched this process.
▶ 2:34:09Sen. Kaine: With multiple nondisclosure and confidentially agreements tying the hands of people who would like to comment to us. Much has been made of your workplace behavior as a leader of nonprofit veterans organizations and as a fox news kind of research. Were you fired--fox news contributor. We are fired from leadership positions at the nonprofits?
▶ 2:34:31Mr. Hegseth: I was the ceo --
▶ 2:34:33Sen. Kaine: Were you fired --
▶ 2:34:35Mr. Hegseth: I was never 5 --
▶ 2:34:38Sen. Kaine: Do you have nondisclosure agreements with those organizations?
▶ 2:34:42Mr. Hegseth: Not that I'm aware of, senator.
▶ 2:34:44Sen. Kaine: Many of your work colleagues said you showed up to work under the influence of alcohol or drug. It would be disqualifying for secretary defense.
▶ 2:34:55Mr. Hegseth: Those are anonymous false claims --
▶ 2:34:58Sen. Kaine: They are not anonymous. We have seen records with names attached --
▶ 2:35:04Mr. Hegseth: -- concerned vets for american fox news --
▶ 2:35:08Sen. Kaine: One of your colleagues said that you got drunk at an event at a bar and chanted "kill all muslims." not anonymous, we have this. Said that you took coworkers to a strip club, you were drunk, you try to do against with strippers, you had to be held off the stage, and one of your employees in that event filed a sexual harassment charge as a result of it.
▶ 2:35:35Sen. Kaine: Now, I know you deny these things, but isn't that the kind of behavior that if true would be disqualifying for somebody to be secretary of defense?
▶ 2:35:41Mr. Hegseth: Senator, anonymous, false charges.
▶ 2:35:46Sen. Kaine: They are not anonymous. I will conclude and say this to the chairman, you claimed this was all anonymous. We have seen records with names attached to all of these including the name of your own mother. So don't make this into some anonymous press thing. We've seen multiple names of colleagues consistently throughout your career that have talked about your abusive actions -- >> chairman, I think he is over his time.
▶ 2:36:14Chair Wicker: Thank you very much. I now ask unanimous consent to enter into the record a family court order concerning the appointment of parenting time between Mr. hegseth and Mrs. samantha hegseth. It states there were no claims of domestic abuse or probable evidence of abuse in the relationship. Without objection that will be added to the record.
▶ 2:36:45Chair Wicker: And we now move to senator kramer. Sen. ca
▶ 2:36:56Sen. Cramer: Thank you, Mr. chairman. Thank you, Mr. hegseth, for your service and willingness to endure this command I'm sorry for what has been happening to you, particularly the very idea that you should that use it there an answer hypothetical potential in somebody's imagination crimes and wouldn't that disqualify you if you were a murderer or rapist. Unfair, and I'm embarrassed for this behavior.
▶ 2:37:23Sen. Cramer: First I want to say thank you for your strong, unapologetic proclamation of faith in jesus christ. I sat here in listen to your opening statement and thought, wow, this is a guy who in today's culture is willing to stand up and say the first thing is first, faith in jesus christ.
▶ 2:37:45Sen. Cramer: I was reminded of what christ said in matthew, "seek ye first the kingdom of god and his righteousness, and these things shall be added unto you." you're going have a great future as our secretary and I look forward to that day happening.
▶ 2:38:00Sen. Cramer: I want to get back after you mentioned -- got dismissed quickly, pivoted as a lot of things do, you mentioned that you were not able to serve with your national guard unit in the protection of the inauguration of joe biden because of a tattoo, a christian tattoo. Can you elaborate on what is this very offensive, extremist, racist tattoo that you have?
▶ 2:38:26Mr. Hegseth: It is a tattoo I have right here. It is called the jerusalem cross. It's an historic christian symbol. Interestingly, recently I attended briefly a memorial ceremony of former president jimmy carter on the floor of our national cathedral. On the front page of his program was the very same jerusalem cross. It is a christian religious symbol.
▶ 2:38:55Mr. Hegseth: When events happened preceding divide in inauguration, I was part-- the biden inauguration, I was part -- as someone who proudly supported donald trump but as a member of the military had orders to guard the nomination. At the last minute those orders were revoked. I've never had orders revoked before. I was not told why.
▶ 2:39:23Mr. Hegseth: Later when I wrote my book, I was able to get information because I had been identified. Someone who served in iraq and afghanistan, and guantanamo bay, holding a riot shield outside the white house, I had been identified as an extremist, someone unworthy of guarding the inauguration of an incoming american president.
▶ 2:39:47Mr. Hegseth: If that is 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, tens of thousands of servicemembers who were spinning birded -- who were kicked because of an experiment of vaccine. In president trump' defense departments, they will be instituted with pay and write.
▶ 2:40:13Mr. Hegseth: Things like focusing on extremism have created a climate inside our ranks that feel political, when it hasn't ever been political. Those are the types of things that will change, and senator sullivan, you mentioned that study. The extremes and working group study, 100 extremists were identified in the ranks of 3 million, and most of those were gang-related. Was a made up a bogeyman to begin with.
▶ 2:40:38Sen. Cramer: You, Mr. hegseth, are not the extremist. The people who would deny you the expression of faith are the action misseds. They are the rate -- are the extremists. They are the racists. They are the bigots. You are the one protecting the right to be one. Anchor for that. --thank you for that.
▶ 2:40:59Sen. Cramer: I want to go back to your opening statement summarized in this beautiful one-sentence paragraph, "leaders at all levels will be held accountable, and war fighting and lethality and the readiness of the troops and their families will be our only focus." at that moment in my mind'sye, I heard soldiers, airmen, marines, sailors, guardians, from the pentagon to the pacific and everywhere in between applaud. And they are thinking, it's about time.
▶ 2:41:29Sen. Cramer: I can get on board with that idea. Quite honestly, I want to get to this because it is so important. I would say -- I don't know, maybe everyone -- I'm trying to think of an exception to this -- that wears the uniform that has come before this committee or I have met privately, publicly, that I've traveled with, that where the uniform, whether it is with four stars or no stars, agree with that statement.
▶ 2:41:59Sen. Cramer: I would be interested in your feedback on this. There has 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. My favorite painting in the rotunda is of george washington retiring his commission, establishing on day one, a man who could have been king chose to be a civilian leader of this country.
▶ 2:42:27Sen. Cramer: And I just would encourage you to trust them first and look for to them saluting the civilian leadership of this country. Maybe if you could spend a minute elaborating a little bit about wokeness, where it comes from, who will be held accountable.
▶ 2:42:48Mr. Hegseth: Wokeness comes not from the uniform to rank, but the political class wasn't on day one, january 20, when present from business what income he will issue a new set of lawful orders and the leaders have the opportunity to follow those lawful orders or not. They will be based not on politics, they will be based on accountability standards and the deli for some that is the process by which leaders will be judged.
▶ 2:43:19Mr. Hegseth: Accountability is coming. Everybody in this room knows that if you are a rifleman and you lose your rifle, they are throwing the book at you. But if you are a general who loses a war, you get a promotion . That is not going to happen in donald trump's pentagon. It will be real standards for success. Everyone from the top, from the most senior general to the most lowly private will ensure that they are treated fairly, men and women, inside that system.
▶ 2:43:46Sen. Cramer: I want to commend you for your answers to senator fischer's questions about nuclear deterrence. I also appreciate the fact that you emphasized reputational deterrence, because deterrence is not a weapon system, it is an attitude, and you project an attitude of deterrence thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 2:44:03Chair Wicker: Thank you, senator cramer. Senator king.
▶ 2:44:09Sen. King: Mr. hegseth, welcome to the committee.
▶ 2:44:14Mr. Hegseth: Thank you, senator.
▶ 2:44:17Sen. King: You made several references to your religion and I share that devotion to christianity, but I'm reminded of saul on his way to damascus, who seemed to have been converted the last several weeks or months. You go in your book just last year that -- this was the book "war on warriors" -- "if we are going to send our boys to fight, and it should be boys, we need to unleash them to win." later on, "our boys should not fight by rules" -- is it only
▶ 2:44:50Sen. King: Boys can fight? You justify that you believe in women in combat -- you testified that you believe in women in combat, but you didn't just last year. How do you expand your conversion?
▶ 2:45:01Mr. Hegseth: Senator, my testimony is clear. Writing a book is different from being secretary of defense, and I look for to leading the men and women of the military. My comment was about the burdensome rules of engagement that members of our generation, men and women, have seen on the battlefield. One thing president trump changed in meaningful ways that lead to meaningful development on the battlefield, when president trump took control in the first term, isis was raging across iraq.
▶ 2:45:31Mr. Hegseth: As someone who spent a lot of time there with other men and women who invested in admission, it was a very difficult moment to see the black flag devices fly.
▶ 2:45:40Sen. King: I appreciate your position --
▶ 2:45:43Mr. Hegseth: He change the rules of engagement and untied the hands of war fighters and allowed them to complete their mission and pressurizes. It is not just -- and crush isis. It has not just tactical applications, operational and strategic implications, how you allow war fighters to go about winning wars. Present -- president trump understands that, and we are going to unleash war fighters to win wars so that wars don't drag on forever is our generation has seen.
▶ 2:46:11Sen. King: So are you rejecting title 18 and title 42, I think, also has provisions that incorporate the geneva convention and the laws of armed combat. Are you saying that those laws should be repealed? That is the law of the land right now.
▶ 2:46:30Mr. Hegseth: Senator, we have laws on the books from the geneva conventions into the uniform code of military justice, and then underneath that you have layers in which standard or temporary rules of engagement are put into place. We fight enemies also as our generation understands that play by no rules. They use civilians as human shields --
▶ 2:46:51Sen. King: So are you saying that the geneva convention --
▶ 2:46:55Mr. Hegseth: We follow rules, but we don't need burdensome rules of engagement that make it impossible for us to win these wars.
▶ 2:47:02Sen. King: You are saying we follow rules but we don't have to follow the rules in all cases, is that correct? Burdensome rules?
▶ 2:47:09Mr. Hegseth: Senator, I making an important tactical distinction that war fighters will understand, that there are other goals we swear an oath to defend, that this committee understand and helps set them, and then there are those echelons above reality, from corps to division to brigade to battalion, and by the time it trickles down to company or squad, you have rules of engagement nobody recognizes, and it makes it incredibly difficult to do your job on the battlefield.
▶ 2:47:40Mr. Hegseth: That is the kind of assessment and look that an army major will give to this process if I was confirmed --
▶ 2:47:46Sen. King: Your quote is -- your quote in 2024, "our boys should not be fighting bibles made by dignified men in mahogany rules -- by rules made by dignified men in mahogany rules." that would be the geneva convention. Are you saying that the geneva convention provisions, which clearly outlawed torture of prisoners, should not apply in the future?
▶ 2:48:13Mr. Hegseth: Senator, how we treat our wounded, how we treat our prisoners, the geneva conventions are incredibly important. We have to acknowledge that the way before our wars when the geneva conventions were written are different from the asymmetric environment of counterinsurgency that I confronted in iraq and afghanistan. I was the senior counterinsurgency instructor in afghanistan.
▶ 2:48:39Mr. Hegseth: My job was to understand how the taliban and al qaeda operated so that the units could be informed what was happening. They knew our rules of engagement, and when they were more restrictive, they took advantage of them and it put our men and women in a more dangerous and difficult place. The future wars we fight, we need to have someone atop the pentagon, sir, who understands how this ripple effects --
▶ 2:48:57Sen. King: I just want to understand your position. Your position is torturous ok? Waterboarding, torture is no longer prohibited, given the circumstances of whatever war we are in?
▶ 2:49:10Mr. Hegseth: Senator, that is not what I have said. I've never been party to torture. We are a country that fights by the rule of law, and our men and women always do. And yet we have too many people here in air-conditioned offices that like to point fingers at the guys in dark and dangerous places, in helicopters in enemy territory for doing things that people in washington, D.C., would never dare to do, or in many cases --
▶ 2:49:36Sen. King: In one of your interviews you said -- you are talking about donald trump and senator cruz --they are willing to do something like waterboarding if it is owing to keep us safe. Are you ok with waterboarding?
▶ 2:49:47Mr. Hegseth: The law of the land is that waterboarding is not legal.
▶ 2:49:51Sen. King: So the statement that you made you now recant? They are willing to do something like waterboarding that is going to keep us safe -- you expressed that with approval.
▶ 2:50:01Mr. Hegseth: Senator, I'm very familiar with that as a concept having spent a year at guantanamo bay, cuba, guarding 700 of those who attacked us on 9/11 --
▶ 2:50:11Sen. King: I just want to be clear, are we going to abide by the geneva convention and the prohibitions on torture or are we not?
▶ 2:50:18Mr. Hegseth: As I've stated multiple times, the geneva conventions are what we base -- but an america first national secured policies not going to hand its prerogatives over to international bodies that make decisions about how mn and women make decisions on the battlefield.
▶ 2:50:36Mr. Hegseth: America first understands when we sent americans for a clear mission and a clear objective, we equip them properly for that objective -- and then we stand behind them with the rules of engagement that allow them to fight decisively --
▶ 2:50:51Sen. King: I understand -- I just have a few seconds left. I was very disturbed in your opening statement where you talked about the priorities that you have, we will work with our partners and allies to deter aggression in the indo-pacific from the commonest chinese. There's not a single mention in this statement about ukraine or russia. Is this code for we are going to abandon ukraine?
▶ 2:51:15Mr. Hegseth: Senator, the president -- that is a presidential-level policy decision and he has made it clear that he would like to see an end to that conflict. You know who the aggressor is, we know with a good guy is. We would like to see it as advantageous for the ukrainians as possible --
▶ 2:51:32Sen. King: You talk about the deterrence of china and I would suggest using ping is watching what we do carefully. -- xi jinping is watching what we do carefully.
▶ 2:51:44Chair Wicker: Thank you, senator king. Senator scott of florida.
▶ 2:51:48Sen. Scott: I would like to enter into the record to two letters which testify to Mr. hegseth's leadership record of concerned veterans for america. The first letter submitted by senior advisor atr senior advisor at cfa stated that there is been no leader, polished champion for veterans -- policy checking for veterans then peaked ensure that veterans had health care choice.
▶ 2:52:13Sen. Scott: The second letter by the digital media director of cfa stated pete brought incredible energy, focus, and a clear vision to the organization, in everything that the team accomplished together.
▶ 2:52:29Chair Wicker: I similarly ask to submit to the record a letter from paul j roberts, retired colonel, U.S. army special forces, speaking to the unwavering integrity of Mr. hegseth. Is there objection? Without objection, those three will be admitted. Senator scott.
▶ 2:52:52Sen. Scott: First, congratulations on your nomination.
▶ 2:52:56Mr. Hegseth: Thank you, senator
▶ 2:52:58Sen. Scott: Thank you for being willing to serve our nation. I served in the navy, I am proud of my dad. He was crazy, he did, jumps with the 82nd airborne. He survived all that and fought in the battle of the bulge. What they went through was hell. I have a lot of respect for him and everybody that puts on the uniform and serves in battle and has two lead people in battle.
▶ 2:53:24Sen. Scott: I've been on a ship, it didn't happen to me, but I've had a lot of friends it happens you and it clearly happened to my dad. I've served on this committee for six years, two under president trump and the last four under president biden. I've seen how the biden-harris administration prioritized wokeness or wokeness over being the most lethal force in the world.
▶ 2:53:50Sen. Scott: Can you talk about some of the changes we can make to improve recruitment and rebuild our military into the most lethal force in the world?
▶ 2:53:55Mr. Hegseth: Physical, senator -- first of all, senator, thank you for the question, thank you for your time. The first and most important thing we could have done is elect donald trump as the new commander in chief, because past is prologue. Our war fighters understand what kind of commander in chief they are going to get in president donald trump, someone who stands behind him, someone who give them clear missions, someone who ends wars decisively.
▶ 2:54:23Mr. Hegseth: The issue of ukraine was mentioned -- and ensures new wars were not started. It was a minor incursion under barack obama into crimea followed by nothing under president trump, followed by an all-out assault by vladimir putin into ukraine under the biden administration. That did not happen under donald trump donald trump managed the taliban.
▶ 2:54:44Mr. Hegseth: Under the biden administration, afghanistan collapsed, tragically, ending the lives of 13 who we remember everything all day, and no one was all the cannibal for that. Chinese s if no one of us held accountable for that. Chinese spy balloons flew over the country. There is no better recruiter in my mind for our military than president donald trump.
▶ 2:55:07Mr. Hegseth: My job is to come alongside him, should I be confirmed, and continue to emphasize his emphasis on war fighting, on getting anything that doesn't contribute to meritocracy out of how decisions are made inside the pentagon. What gender you are, what race you are, your views on climate change, whether you are a person of conscience and your faith should have no bearing on whether you get promoted or whether you are selected to go to west point or whether you graduate from ranger school.
▶ 2:55:38Mr. Hegseth: The only thing that should matter is how capable are you at your job, how excellent are you and your job. I served in multiethnic units in every place I work, every place that I served. None of that mattered. Suddenly we reinject dei and critical race theory, dividing troops into different categories, oppressor and oppressed, in ways that they otherwise just want to work together.
▶ 2:56:04Mr. Hegseth: That is why I pointed out before and I will say again because I'm sure it will be quoted to me at some point, the dumbest phrase in military history is "our unity is our strength." no, our shared purpose is our strength. Our shared mission is our strength. We are one dod community of all, committed to the same mission. Has nothing to do with your background.
▶ 2:56:26Mr. Hegseth: Has to do with what your commitment is to the country that is my solemn pledge traversing a person that would put the uniform on and reflex president trump's priorities as well.
▶ 2:56:37Sen. Scott: Thank you. We talked a little bit about the fact that the pentagon can't do an audit. Can you talk about -- to me, I have run businesses, it is all about accountability. If you want to get an audit done, you can get an audit done. You might get a letter saying there are things you have to fix, but it all goes to accountability, and we haven't had it.
▶ 2:57:00Sen. Scott: Can you talk about what you -- how you bring accountability to the table, what you have done in the past, what you are going to do with regard to bringing accountability to the panic on? Mr. hegseth-- pentagon?
▶ 2:57:11Mr. Hegseth: I mentioned when I said it, I know what I don't know. I've never run an organization with a budget of it hundred $50 billion. What I do know is I have led people, and it is leadership of people and motivation of people and a clear vision of people where you build a team, cast that vision, empower people properly -- I want smarter and more capable people around me than me. And you will get that at the department.
▶ 2:57:39Mr. Hegseth: I cast a clear vision, build a plan, work it, we set the metrics, everyone is held accountable. I know our incoming businessman president believes in accountability and holding people accountable. That will happen at the pentagon . This has been a problem for a long time. Secretary rumsfeld gave a speech on september 10, 2001, that is mostly forgotten, but it was about the need for acquisition reform, cutting tail to give to war fighters.
▶ 2:58:10Mr. Hegseth: Then 9/11 happened. These are problems that have been persistent for a long time. But now we have new threats and we need the urgency of this moment, the most dangerous moment since the end of the cold war and possibly since world war ii, the urgency to do everything possible to get capabilities into the hands of war fighters, emergency powers, defense production act, whatever it takes. An audit is certainly part of it.
▶ 2:58:33Sen. Scott: Why do you want to do this job? What drives you?
▶ 2:58:38Chair Wicker: You have 30 seconds.
▶ 2:58:42Mr. Hegseth: Because I love my country, senator, and I've dedicated my life to the war fighters. People see me as someone who hosts a morning show on television. But people who really know me know where my heart is at. It is with the guys in this audience who've had my back and I've had theirs. We have been to some of the darkest and most difficult places you can ever be in.
▶ 2:59:11Mr. Hegseth: You come back a different person. Only by the grace of god am I here before you today. I'm doing this job for them, all of them.
▶ 2:59:19Chair Wicker: Thank you, Mr. hegseth. Senator warren.
▶ 2:59:22Sen. Warren: Mr. hegseth, thank you for your service. If you are confirmed as secretary of defense, you will oversee our military including a quarter million women who currently serve on active duty in the army, the navy, air force, space forces, and the marines. I have serious concerns that your behavior towards women disqualifies you from serving in this role. I've been trying to get answers from you for quite some time on this.
▶ 2:59:51Sen. Warren: You haven't wanted to meet or answer any of my questions, so we will just have to do it here and dive in. I want to pick up on some of the questions asked by senator shaheen angela brandt and -- senator shaheen and gillibrand and hirono. I'm not gonna talk about anonymous sources, I'm going to quote you directly. We've got the video, we've got it in print.
▶ 3:00:16Sen. Warren: Going back to january 2013, you told a fox news interview or that women in the military simile could measure up to men in the military, saying that allowing women to serve in combat roles would force the military to lower the bar. You picked up on that same theme in 2015, making remarks on fox news referring to women in combat as "it would erode standards." june 2024 you said on ben shapiro's podcast, "women shouldn't be in combat at all."
▶ 3:00:48Sen. Warren: And then of course we talked about it in 2024, you published a book and you say on page 26 of your book, "we need to moms, but not in the military, especially in combat units." page 48 of your book you claimed that women should not be in combat roles because men are distracted by women.
▶ 3:01:10Sen. Warren: And then 10 weeks ago you appeared on the sean ryan show and said, "I'm straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles." now, I presume you recall making all of the statements?
▶ 3:01:24Mr. Hegseth: Senator, I'm not familiar with the article you are pointing to in 2013, but it underscores my argument -- in that 2013 argument I was talking about standards. Standards are what it is all --
▶ 3:01:37Sen. Warren: Let's not have this same fight again. I'm quoting to directly, we have got the video, we are happy to show it. I want to be clear, for 12 years you were open about your views and your views were consistently the same --women are inferior soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, and guardians. In case anyone missed the point, and these are your words from 10 weeks ago, women absolutely straight up should not be permitted to serve in combat.
▶ 3:02:09Sen. Warren: I noticed on each of these quotes, those are set without qualification. It's not by how much you can lift or how fast you can run. They don't belong in combat, period, your words straight up. And then on november 9, 2024, 32 days after your last public comments saying that women absolutely should not be in combat, you declared that, "some of our greatest warriors are
▶ 3:02:40Sen. Warren: Women." and you support having them serve in combat. Now, that is a very, very big about-face in a very, very short period of time. Help me understand, Mr.
▶ 3:02:54Sen. Warren: Hegseth, what extraordinary event happened in that 30-day period that made you change core values you had expressed for the preceding 12 years?
▶ 3:03:13Mr. Hegseth: Senator, again, I very much appreciate you bringing up my comments from 2013 because for me, this issue has always been about standards. Unfortunately, because of some of the people that have been --
▶ 3:03:27Sen. Warren: Excuse me, Mr. hegseth, let's just stop --
▶ 3:03:30Mr. Hegseth: Lethality and meritocracy --
▶ 3:03:34Sen. Warren: I'm quoting you from the podcast. "women shouldn't be in combat at all." where are the reference to standards that they should be there if they can carry, if they can run? I don't see that at all, Mr. hegseth.
▶ 3:03:53Sen. Warren: What I see is there is a 32-date y period in which you suddenly have another description about your views of women in the military, and I just want to know, what changed in the 32 days that the song you sang is not the song you coming here today to sing?
▶ 3:04:12Mr. Hegseth: Senator, the concerns I had on the concerns many have had especially in ground combat units is that in pursuit of certain percentages or quotas, standards have been changed, and that makes combat --
▶ 3:04:25Sen. Warren: Let me make a suggestion about what happened in that 32 days. You got a nomination from president trump. I've heard of deathbed conversions, but this is the first time I've heard of a nomination conversion.
▶ 3:04:39Sen. Warren: And I hope you understand that many women serving in the military right now might think that if you can convert so rapidly your long-held and aggressively pursued views in just 32 days, that 32 days after you get confirmed, maybe you will just reverse those views and go back to the old guy who said straight up women do not belong in combat. Mr.
▶ 3:05:08Sen. Warren: Hegseth, you have written that after they retire, generals should be banned from working for the defense industry for 10 years. You and I agree on the corrosive effects of the revolving door between the pentagon and defense contractors. It's something I would've liked to talk to about if you had been willing to visit with me.
▶ 3:05:30Sen. Warren: But the question I have for you on this is will you put your money where your mouth is and agree that when you leave this job, you will not work for the defense industry for 10 years?
▶ 3:05:39Mr. Hegseth: Senator, it's not even a question I've thought about.
▶ 3:05:43Sen. Warren: You can think about it right now.
▶ 3:05:45Mr. Hegseth: My motivation for this job has never been --
▶ 3:05:49Sen. Warren: I just need yes or no here. Time is short, I just need yes or no.
▶ 3:05:54Mr. Hegseth: I would consult with the president about the policy --
▶ 3:05:58Sen. Warren: In other words, you are quite sure that every general who serves should not go directly into the defense industry for 10 years. You are not willing to make that same pledge?
▶ 3:06:08Mr. Hegseth: I'm not a general, senator? [laughter]
▶ 3:06:13Sen. Warren: You'll be the one -- let us just be clear -- in charge of the generals. You are saying sauce for the goose but not for the gander?
▶ 3:06:25Mr. Hegseth: I want to see the policy --
▶ 3:06:28Sen. Warren: Oh, I bet you will --
▶ 3:06:30Chair Wicker: Thank you, senator warren. Senator tuberville.
▶ 3:06:36Sen. Tuberville: This has gone well. I would like to submit this letter, topic, conduct at vets for freedom for peg seth-- heg seth.
▶ 3:06:50Chair Wicker: Without objection.
▶ 3:06:53Sen. Tuberville: General hegseth -- I mean, Mr. hegseth. [laughter] I know this is tough. That's what it's about. You are a tough guy. Never seen this many people here for a support of a nominee. That's impressive. I met with a lot of them yesterday. They were very passionate. Thank you for willing to take this on. Congratulations on your nomination.
▶ 3:07:23Sen. Tuberville: I'm worried about recruiting. We can look at everything out there and talk about all of these things, these narratives. But at the end of the day I came from a team sport, where the players won the games. That is what's going to happen here. You are not going to win the game, you are going to set the precedent, you will get the blame or credit, but there is people under you that will set the precedent for the future of our country.
▶ 3:07:54Sen. Tuberville: The wargames that we play on our computers with our adversaries right now, for us it don't look good. Because our military -- we are in trouble. Our home countries in trouble. Thank god president trump got elected november 5. We could enough cap down this same path, that cannot happen. I met with a couple generals this summer.
▶ 3:08:16Sen. Tuberville: "coach, we are spending more money on transgender restrooms then we are for $100 million airplanes." that's not acceptable, we can do that. That is not what this is about. Met with a couple of navy seals not too long ago, they got back from crawling around in the mud in the muck overseas, unknown places, couldn't tell you where they have been, carrying a weapon, obviously protecting us and our allies. The first week they are back, would do they do?
▶ 3:08:45Sen. Tuberville: They had to go through a week of dei training. Both are now out, they've given up. It was embarrassing to them, what they had to do. We've lost all side of what we are doing in our military. Lost all side. It starts with leadership, and it starts with recruiting. Why would a young man -- it used to when I was growing up if you couldn't afford to go to college, you have the opportunity to go to the military where you could learn a trade. You could learn, you could make a living for your family, and eventually possibly get an education. That was a good alternative.
▶ 3:09:17Sen. Tuberville: We've forgotten that. We can't give up on our young people. Young people are our number one commodity in this country, and they're the ones that is going to live and die for the freedom of this country in the future. Thank you for taking this on. Recruiting -- our service academies are meant to serve as our primary commissioning source of officers. It now appears they are breeding ground for leftist activists and champions of dei and critical theory.
▶ 3:09:46Sen. Tuberville: Now, not all, but some, and some is way too much. How are we going to eliminate this, Mr. hegseth? How are we going to get this back on track to where we grow our leaders -- I had young men who forever wanted to go to west point. I got him a nomination, I got him accepted, and he turned it down. He said, "coach, I'm not getting involved in that mess." how do we overcome this?
▶ 3:10:11Mr. Hegseth: Senator, thank you for the question, and it comes down to leadership, clear leadership. From president trump through meet, should I be nominated, and that is what soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines see, clear leadership. This is what we believe, this is the mission we're going to give you, here is how we are going to support you. Because the military at a lot of levels, senator, has been for generations of family business. My grandfather served.
▶ 3:10:42Mr. Hegseth: My father served, I served, my daughter served. That chain has started to break with generations of people my age and older talking to the kids and grandkids wondering, pondering, do I want them to serve, will my country use them responsibly. When that kind of doubt is cast, you get serious recruiting problems like we do right now you got questions about whether I want my son or daughter to follow my path and west point, which I've heard multiple times.
▶ 3:11:12Mr. Hegseth: You have to rip, root and b ranch, the politics and divisive policies out of these institutions and then focus them on creating and preparing actual future military leadership. West point traditionally has focused on engineering, and rightfully so. In our fighting forces across all services we need the best and brightest minds in engineering in addition to milk her studies. That is what I did -- military studies. That is what I did at rotc in princeton, military science.
▶ 3:11:45Mr. Hegseth: The air force academy and naval academy as a tour to teach the wisdom they learned in uniform, instead of the same civilian professor that came from the same woke university that they left and push that entered service academies. I truly believe under donald trump we will have a recruiting renaissance. That since signals to the world, enemies and allies alike, that america's back.
▶ 3:12:09Sen. Tuberville: Thank you, and it's about attitude, too, and I love your attitude. You gotta be motivated. You got to understand that people -- they will hook up with you, they will understand and learn under their leaders. Why would you fight for a country that you don't love? That is what I keep hearing from a lot of our college kids that they are getting from these woke universities that they go to pit I worked a lot of them.
▶ 3:12:38Sen. Tuberville: That is one of the excuses I get from our kids. Another one, according to the pentagon between 2021 and 2024, the number of civilian employees in the office of the secretary of defense have doubled from 1500 to 3000 good civilians on joint chiefs has increased from 191 to almost 1000. Our military strength goes down, staff numbers are exploding.
▶ 3:13:08Sen. Tuberville: What are you going to do about that?
▶ 3:13:10Mr. Hegseth: We are going to address that. We won world war ii with seven four-star generals. Today we have 42 four-star generals. There is an inverse relationship between the size of staff and victory on the battlefield. We don't need to we don't need tmore bureaucracy of the top, we need war fighters in power at the bottom.
▶ 3:13:33Mr. Hegseth: It is my job working with those we hire to identify those places where fat can be cut so it goes towards legality-- leh towards legality-- lethality.
▶ 3:13:43Chair Wicker: Thank you, senator tuberville. Senator peters.
▶ 3:13:49Sen. Peters: You know, we have a far too much partisanship in our country right now. It is eating away the fabric of what has always made this country great about bringing people together from all sorts of backgrounds, also it's of expenses -- all sorts of experiences. We know when our motto, together as one, we are strong.
▶ 3:14:15Sen. Peters: On this committee -- I speak for myself but for many of my colleagues -- want to take partisanship out of this proceeding as much as we can. I'm not naive, it's out there, I get it, but we've got to take that out. I want you to know that I was a member of this committee and I voted in a bipartisan way for secretaries of defense, 2 secretaries of defense when donald trump was previously president.
▶ 3:14:43Sen. Peters: We had five totals secretaries of defense during that four-your period. Want to keep that in mind with what we might see in this coming and administration. We voted by a big margin for those folks as well. But part of that was the process, having an opportunity to get to know the person and understand the qualifications and understand the standards that I made repeated requests to meet with you prior to this meeting. I know many of my other colleagues also wanted to meet with you.
▶ 3:15:12Sen. Peters: I did that with other nominees that I was happy to vote for pit I thought they were highly qualified individuals and true professionals. And yet I could never get a meeting with you. With their reason you were afraid to have one-on-one meetings with some of my colleagues before the hearing?
▶ 3:15:27Mr. Hegseth: Senator, I know there was a great deal of outreach to multiple offices. Schedules get full, there's a lot going on --
▶ 3:15:36Sen. Peters: I was ready. It would have been so much better to have that opportunity to talk beforehand. I think that is a big mistake, and it doesn't set us on a good course when you refuse to meet with people and have a professional conversation about the huge challenges that we face at the department of defense. My colleagues, the folks who introduced you and others, chairman mentioned about the management of the dod as a concern, cost overruns, delays on weapon systems.
▶ 3:16:06Sen. Peters: We need strong management at the department of defense first and foremost. We've gotta have someone who is going to grab the reins and give the taxpayers value for having the most lethal fighting force in the world, but we have got to do it in an efficient way. I've heard about the jobs you have had in the past. Let's talk about qualifications. I know you had two previous positions. How many people reported to you in those positions?
▶ 3:16:30Mr. Hegseth: At vets for freedom we were a small upstart --
▶ 3:16:35Sen. Peters: Just a number.
▶ 3:16:36Mr. Hegseth: Going back to capitol hill --
▶ 3:16:39Sen. Peters: Just the number, please.
▶ 3:16:42Mr. Hegseth: 8 to 10 full-time staff and lots of volunteers.
▶ 3:16:46Sen. Peters: So you had 8. We heard about the two, and there's been talk about the mismanagement, etc., etc. Won't go into that, just curious. You had 8 there. What is the largest number of people you have supervised?
▶ 3:17:02Mr. Hegseth: Not 3 million.
▶ 3:17:04Sen. Peters: I don't expect that, very few people have ever had that experience. How many?
▶ 3:17:09Mr. Hegseth: I think we had over 100 full-time staff of concerned vets for america, with thousands of volunteers. Headquarters company commander, a couple hundred. Nothing remotely near the size of the defense department and I would acknowledge that.
▶ 3:17:25Sen. Peters: Nothing remotely near a medium-sized company in america, let alone a big company in america, especially a major corporation. Basically we are hiring you to be the ceo of one of the most complex, largest organizations in the world. We are the board of directors here. I don't know of any corporate board of directors that would hire a ceo for a major company if they came and said, you know, I supervised 100 people before. They would ask you what kind of experiences you had.
▶ 3:17:55Sen. Peters: We need innovation. Can you give me an experience or your actual experience of driving innovation in an organization?
▶ 3:18:04Mr. Hegseth: At concerned veterans for america we created a bipartisan task force to drive policy change on capitol hill that organizations fought ferociously against. We got the v.a. Accountability act passed in the way that a nonprofit of our size has never done.
▶ 3:18:26Sen. Peters: Thank you. I have limited time. Give me an example where you have driven down costs. I heard examples from senator blumenthal. Cost was a problem for you in your 50 person organization. You raised less than you spent. Did you drive costs down in a 50 person organization?
▶ 3:18:52Sen. Peters: We have to drive costs down dramatically in an organization of 3 million people with hundreds of billions of dollars. You don't have that experience that you can talk about. To me, or acquisition reform. Have you had experience in acquisition reform?
▶ 3:19:09Mr. Hegseth: I have written about --
▶ 3:19:12Sen. Peters: Have you actually done it?
▶ 3:19:14Mr. Hegseth: What we need in the hands of error war fighters --
▶ 3:19:19Sen. Peters: We needi will go be
▶ 3:19:27Sen. Peters: We needi will go b,
▶ 3:19:28Sen. Peters: We needi will go bf the most complex organization in the world. I don't think there is a board of directors in america that would hire you as a ceo with the type of experience you have on your resume. You talk about standards, we have a problem of standards and the dod and have to raise standards for the men and women who serve. Do you think the way to raise the minimum standards of the people who serve us is to lower the standards for the secretary of defense?
▶ 3:19:57Sen. Peters: That we have someone who has never managed an organization more than 100 people, will come in and manage this incredibly important organization and do it with professionalism and has no experience they can tell us they have actually done that? I have real problems with that. It is not about other issues brought up that are important.
▶ 3:20:17Sen. Peters: I'm about trying to get things done, managing efficiently and having the best people who have demonstrated that in a large organization and I'm sorry, I don't see that in your backgrounds. There are other things you can do well. You are a capable person, but you have not convinced me that you would be able to take on this tremendous responsibility with a complex organization and having little or no significant management experience.
▶ 3:20:44Mr. Hegseth: Senator, I'm grateful to be hired by one of the most successful ceo's in american history, should I be confirmed. >> Mr. hag seth, --hegseth it seems to me you have supervised more than the average U.S. senator. [laughter] [applause]
▶ 3:21:09Mr. Hegseth: Except for former governors, Mr. chairman. >> Mr. mullin I understand you are yielding back your time and do not wish to ask questions. I was misinformed.
▶ 3:21:23Senatorsen. Mullin: I would liko submit for the record signatures by 32 members of the house of representatives who are veterans. They call on the senate to honor the constitutional duty of advise and consent by conducting a fair, thorough confirmation process that evaluates his nomination solely on the substance and merits.
▶ 3:21:48Senatorsen. Mullin: His distinguished military service, academic credentials in bold vision for revitalizing I consent to enter into the record. >> without exception.
▶ 3:22:00Sen. Mullin: There are -- there is talk about qualifications. There are a lot of senators I would not have on my board because there are no qualifications except your age and living in the state and being citizen of the U.S., other than convincing people to vote for us. When we talk about qualifications if you are qualified for. Can the chairman tell me with the qualifications are for secretary of defense, Mr. chairman?
▶ 3:22:31Sen. Mullin: Can you tell me what those are? >> I would be happy for you to do that.
▶ 3:22:38Sen. Mullin: Let me read it for you. >> I was getting some advice from my second-in-command.
▶ 3:22:46Sen. Mullin: There was a lot about all of occasions and it is hypocritical of senators talking about his qualifications not being able to lead to be the secretary of defense, yet your qualifications are not any better. You guys are not any more qualified to be senator than I am, except we are lucky enough to be here. Let me read you what the qualifications are for secretary of defense. I googled it.
▶ 3:23:16Sen. Mullin: The U.S. secretary of defense position is usually filled by a civilian. That is it. If you have served in the U.S. army forces and have been in the service, you have to be retired at least seven years and congress can weigh that.
▶ 3:23:35Sen. Mullin: Then there are questions the senator from massachusetts brought up about serving on a board inside the military industry and yet your own secretary, secretary austin, we had to vote on a waiver because he stepped off the board of raytheon. But I guess that is ok because that is a democrat secretary of defense. But we so quickly forget about that.
▶ 3:24:05Sen. Mullin: Senator kaine -- or the senator from virginia brings up the fact, what if you showed up drunk your job? How many senators have showed up drunk to vote at night? [laughter] have any of you asked them to step down and resigned from their job? Don't tell me you have not seen it because I know you have. How many senators do you know got a divorce for cheating on their wives? Did you ask them to step down? No.
▶ 3:24:35Sen. Mullin: But it is for show. Make sure you make a big show and point out the hypocrisy because the man made a mistake. You want to sit there and say he is not qualified. Give me a joke. It is ridiculous to hold yourself to this higher standard and forget you have a big plank in your eye. We have all made mistakes. I have made mistakes. Jennifer, thank you for loving him through that mistake. The only reason I am here and not in prison is because my wife loved me, too.
▶ 3:25:06Sen. Mullin: [applause] I have changed, but I'm not perfect. But I found somebody who thought I was perfect. For whatever reason, you love pete, and I don't know why. Just like our lord and savior for gave me, my wife has had to forgive me more than once, too, and I'm sure you've had to forgive him, too, so thank you. Before I go down this rabbit hole again. Tell me something about your wife that you love.
▶ 3:25:37Mr. Hegseth: She is the smartest, most capable, loving, humble, honest person I have ever met.
▶ 3:25:55Sen. Mullin: Don't forget about your kids.
▶ 3:25:58Mr. Hegseth: I'm supposed to talk about my kids?
▶ 3:26:01Sen. Mullin: She is the mother.
▶ 3:26:02Mr. Hegseth: Amazing mother of our blended family.
▶ 3:26:06Sen. Mullin: I'm trying to help you here. Do you believe you will be running the department of yourself?
▶ 3:26:16Mr. Hegseth: Absolutely not. As president trump is assembling his cabinet, I look forward and already am in the process of building one of the best possible teams you can imagine with decades of experience outside the pentagon driving innovation and also inside the building knowing how to make it happen.
▶ 3:26:39Sen. Mullin: In the organizations you had the privilege of running, did you have a board?
▶ 3:26:48Mr. Hegseth: In both organizations, yes.
▶ 3:26:51Sen. Mullin: What kind of decisions did you make?
▶ 3:26:53Mr. Hegseth: Those boards provided oversight and insight into decision-making.
▶ 3:26:59Sen. Mullin: They have special unique sets that filled gaps you have no expertise in?
▶ 3:27:04Mr. Hegseth: Yes, sir.
▶ 3:27:06Sen. Mullin: You believe you're capable of surrounding yourself with capable individuals you can run those same ideas by and surround yourself with people who are smarter and better equipped in areas you don't carry those expertise with?
▶ 3:27:21Mr. Hegseth: The only reason I have had success in life, to include my wonderful wife, is because of people more capable around me and having the self-confidence to empower them and say, run with the ball, take the football down the field, we will do this together, I don't care who gets the credit. In this case that is -- that is how the pentagon will be run.
▶ 3:27:46Sen. Mullin: Let me stay with qualifications. You have a man who has literally put his butt on the line 20 years in the service, multiple deployments. Has heard the bullets crack over the top of his head. Has been willing to go into combat, willing to see friends die for this country.
▶ 3:28:11Sen. Mullin: He is willing to still put himself through this, his wife is willing to stand beside him knowing he was not perfect, knowing this would all be brought up and would still serve the country. What other qualifications does he need? I.
▶ 3:28:28Mr. Chairman: Thank. Senator duckworth. Again, we really are going to strictly enforce the rule of no demonstrations or noise. >> a point of personal privilege to make a correction.
▶ 3:28:49Mr. Chairman: The reason general austin required a waiver was not because of his participation in corporate enterprise, it is because he did not have seven years of interruption between his service and his appointment. Second point is, if any of us were appointed secretary of defense, we would be subject to the same types of questions. Senator john towell was nominated as secretary of defense.
▶ 3:29:18Mr. Chairman: It was discovered by his colleagues that his behavior was not commensurate with the responsibilities, despite his service. He was taken down.
▶ 3:29:28Mr. Chairman: Senator duckworth, your recognize.
▶ 3:29:32Sen. Duckworth: Thank you. Also secretary mattis had to have this waiver as well. This hearing is about whether you are qualified to be secretary of defense. One of the qualifications to answer my colleague's question is to win the vote of every member of this committee and be confirmed by the U.S. senate. You need to convince us you are worthy of that vote. The people of the state of illinois voted me to be there senator so I could cast that vote when it comes to picking who is going to be the next secretary of defense.
▶ 3:30:03Sen. Duckworth: This hearing now seems to be about whether or not women are qualified to serve in combat, not about whether or not you are qualified to be secretary of defense. Let me say the american people need a secretary of defense ready to lead on day one. You're not that person. Our adversaries watch closely times of transition. Any sense the department of defense is steered by someone unprepared for the job puts america at risk. I'm not willing to do that.
▶ 3:30:34Sen. Duckworth: Explained to the american people , this committee who have to vote for you, and troops deployed around the world, why you are qualified to lead the department of defense. You have only led a 200 person organization. We know you badly mangled the budget that, after you left they had to bring in a forensic accountant to figure out what went wrong. The largest budget you managed was $18 billion.
▶ 3:31:02Sen. Duckworth: That is about 51,560 times fewer than the secretary of defense budget of $525 billion. You talked about the dod passing an audit. Explain to me a time organization that you led that underwent an audit.
▶ 3:31:33Sen. Duckworth: You say you will higher smarter people than you to run the audit. I am not asking you to be an accountant. Tell me what type of guidance will be given to those employees, what will happen whether or not you pass that audit. Have you led an audit of any organization, yes or no? I don't want a long answer.
▶ 3:31:52Mr. Hegseth: In both organizations iran we were completely fiscally responsible.
▶ 3:31:59Sen. Duckworth: Yes or no did you need an audit? Yes or no? What are you afraid of? Yes or no did you need an audit? Do not know this answer? Yes or no? I will take that as a no. What were the findings? What guidance did you give the auditors? None, because you never led an audit.
▶ 3:32:24Sen. Duckworth: No one expects you to be an audit, but we expect you to understand the complexity of the pentagon budget process that is absolutely necessary to outfit our war fighters. The secretary of defense is required to make quick decisions every single day with information provided them. The secretary of defense needs wrath and depth of knowledge. I'm concerned you have neither.
▶ 3:32:49Sen. Duckworth: What is the highest level of international negotiation you have engaged in, led in, because the secretary of defense leads national security negotiations. There are three main ones. Can you name at least one of them?
▶ 3:33:01Mr. Hegseth: Could you repeat the question?
▶ 3:33:03Sen. Duckworth: What is the highest level of international security agreement you have led, and can you name some the secretary of defense would lead? There are three main ones.
▶ 3:33:15Mr. Hegseth: I have not been involved in international security arrangements because I have not been in government other than the military.
▶ 3:33:21Sen. Duckworth: So no. Can you name one of the three main ones?
▶ 3:33:26Mr. Hegseth: Nato might be one you are referring to.
▶ 3:33:31Sen. Duckworth: The status of forces agreement.
▶ 3:33:34Mr. Hegseth: I've been part of teaching it.
▶ 3:33:37Sen. Duckworth: But you don't remember to mention it? You are not qualified, Mr. hegseth. You talk about repairing our defense industrial complex. You're not qualified. You would do security agreements and you can't even mention that. You talked about the indo pacific a little bit. I'm glad you mentioned it.
▶ 3:34:00Sen. Duckworth: Can you name the importance of at least one of the nations in the asean, and what type of agreement we have with at least one of those nations and how many nations are in asean?
▶ 3:34:10Mr. Hegseth: I could not tell you the exact -- Sen.
▶ 3:34:13Duckworth: No, you could not.
▶ 3:34:15Mr. Hegseth: But there is china, japan, australia, worked on submarines with them.
▶ 3:34:22Sen. Duckworth: None of those three countries you mentioned are in asean. I suggest you do a little homework before you prepare for these types of negotiations. Listen, Mr. hegseth, we ask our troops to go into harm's way all the time, we ask them to go into harm's way and this behind me is a copy of the soldiers creed, a copy that usually hangs over my desk in the senate. You should be familiar with it.
▶ 3:34:54Sen. Duckworth: It hung over my desk at walter reed every day I woke up and fought my way back because I wanted to go back and serve next to my buddies who saved my life. The same copy, these words I repeated over and over again. Let me read out two things to you, two sentences. I will always place the mission first. And, I am disciplines, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient at my warrior task. Mr.
▶ 3:35:20Sen. Duckworth: Hegseth, our troops follow these words every day, man up, pack of their rucksacks and go to war. They deserve a leader who can lead them, not a leader who wants to lower the standards for himself while raising standards for others. Our troops already meet the standard. We ask troops to man the ship, fight the fire, fly the helicopter until their very last breath and they do that every day. They cannot be led by someone who is not competent to do the job.
▶ 3:35:51Sen. Duckworth: How can we ask these warriors to train on the highest standard when you're asking us to lower the standards to make you the secretary of defense simply because you are buddies with our president-elect. By the way, he has filed for bankruptcy six times. I'm not sure he is the type of ceo you want to refer to as a successful businessman. Let me be clear. You can't seem to grasp there is no U.S. military as we know it without the incredible women that serve. Women who earned their place in their units.
▶ 3:36:22Sen. Duckworth: You have not earned your place as secretary of defense. You say you care about keeping our armed forces strong and you like the meritocracy. You sir are a no go at this station.
▶ 3:36:36Mr. Chairman: Thank you, senator duckworth. I would like to submit a letter submitted by Mr. brian marriott that says anyone who claims that pete mismanaged funds is ignorant of the facts. Without objection it will be admitted to the record. Senator? >> thank you, chairman wicker and congratulations on your chairmanship of this committee. You're doing a great job.
▶ 3:37:09Mr. Chairman: I wanted to submit to the record a letter submitted by a former operations manager, Mr. catlin. His letter states Mr. hegseth and Mr. catlin conducted weekly meetings to review every dollar the organization spent. Pete's hands-on approach and dedication to financial responsibility insured vets for freedom operated within budget. Mr.
▶ 3:37:33Mr. Chairman: Catlin's letters state that pete treated staff with utmost respect regardless of race or gender. I ask unanimous consent to put this into the record.
▶ 3:37:44Chairman Wicker: Without objection so ordered. >> Mr. hegseth, congratulation on your nomination and thank you for appearing before the committee today. I enjoyed meeting in our office before christmas and our friendship before that. You stated the american people need to be informed, engaged and inspired to join our military. I wholeheartedly agree.
▶ 3:38:11Chairman Wicker: We also have a problem with obesity and falling academic standards. Very concerning. We talked about that before. If confirmed how would you approach increasing the number of americans eligible to serve in the military, but without lowering standards?
▶ 3:38:26Mr. Hegseth: I think there are already, to the credit of the army and other services have now caught up with that, which of piloted programs that have had success, that have allowed young americans who want to serve in the military but can't pass the asfab or apft to get into training a preparatory class to get caught up. Unfortunately yes we have a problem with obesity in our country.
▶ 3:38:54Mr. Hegseth: Not necessarily something if I am confirmed secretary of defense is able to address but I think leading from the front matters. Having a secretary of defense that will go out and do pt with the troops matters, that has done that before. Hopefully that is a motivating factor for young people.
▶ 3:39:17Mr. Hegseth: The reality of obesity and criminal backgrounds and medical problems have long been an issue of recruitments in america unfortunately. What changed is the perception of military service because of the condition of the service and the way our schools don't teach young people to love the country anymore. If you don't love the country, why would you want to serve? That is a deeper problem. All those things have to be addressed to revive recruiting and obesity is part of that.
▶ 3:39:45Sen. Budd: I have had multiple conversations with young folks back in north carolina, young men and women. We get to meet a lot of them. I encourage a lot of folks to join the military. They say they are concerned it has become politicized. If confirmed, would you commit to working with my office to address the military recruiting crisis, ensuring the military is focused senator -- focus?
▶ 3:40:16Mr. Hegseth: Senator, absolutely, with support from commander-in-chief who received that mandate when americans spoke out and said we want peace through strength, america first foreign policy and we don't want political ideology driving decisions inside our defense department. That was clear. It is an infection the american people are acutely aware of which the men and women in this room have lived firsthand.
▶ 3:40:44Mr. Hegseth: I have lived it firsthand and that is why it will be a priority. I truly believe and him humbled by this, the response we have already seen from young men and women who decided to join the military when they had said I was not going to. But seeing a commander in chief donald trump reassured them. Seeing the possibility of confirmed of the secretary of defense that would have their back reassured them.
▶ 3:41:13Mr. Hegseth: We have already seen the numbers are there, a recruiting surgeon all services that I would welcome an opportunity to continue. It is humbling to think families across the country would have confidence in us to deliver for their young men and women. There is no more important task.
▶ 3:41:33Sen. Budd: Shifting gears I want to hear about the capacity gap with china and what it means for potential fight in the indo pacific. If confirmed what policy recommendations will you make to the president on procurement and maintenance of fourth and fifth generation fighters while we continue to research and develop six generation and collaborative work craft?
▶ 3:41:55Mr. Hegseth: That is an important conversation, one I have been looking at a great deal. A lot of it involves classifications and understanding precisely cost and capabilities including capabilities of enemy systems not just fourth and fifth but potential sixth generation which you have seen a prototype released from the chinese. That is a dangerous development.
▶ 3:42:28Mr. Hegseth: Ensuring for than fifth are capable and upgraded as necessary. When you look at what is happening in the indo pacific, say the operability range is going to matter because it is such a big battle space, that will factor in decisions that are made and that is where I feel liberated that I did not work at lockheed, or pick a defense contractor. Did not mean to .1 out in particular.
▶ 3:42:58Mr. Hegseth: I don't have a particular interest in any company or narrative. I want to know what works, what defeats our enemies, what keeps us safe, what deters them, what keeps our enemies up at night. Whatever that is, I want more of it and want to invest in it. I know that is the view trump has as well.
▶ 3:43:19Sen. Budd: Some commented recently about eliminating manned aircraft. I would say one day, but certainly not before 2027, especially in the indo pacific. Would you work with my office in this committee to ensure the proper mix of fighters, manned and unmanned?
▶ 3:43:40Mr. Hegseth: I look forward to working with you on that because unmanned will be an important part of the way future wars are fought. Just the idea of survivability for human being drives cost in ways unmanned systems do not. I look forward to that conversation.
▶ 3:43:57Chairman Wicker: I now recognize senator reed for a unanimous consent request. >> I would consent two letters be submitted for the record. One signed by numerous organizations. One by several organizations including truman national security.
▶ 3:44:18Chairman Wicker: Without objection, so ordered. Senator kelly, senator rosen got here after the gavel went down. Do you really want to go ahead of her? >> I will defer to my good friend and colleague, senator rosen of the great state of nevada.
▶ 3:44:37Chairman Wicker: Good decision. Senator rosen, are recognized.
▶ 3:44:42Sen. Rosen: Thank you, senator kelly. Thank you for holding this hearing. Mr. hegseth, I appreciate your service. However, I'm deeply disappointed you would not agree to meet with me as other members have sat on this committee prior to this hearing as is the precedent for this committee and others. Let me tell you about what I would have talked about had you made yourself available.
▶ 3:45:11Sen. Rosen: Nevada is home to the premier aviation training ranges for the air force and navy. The largest ammunition depot in the world and only place in the country where we can verify the reliability of our nuclear stockpile without the need for explosive testing. The nevada national guard is one of the few units across the country with the mission of fighting wildfires care that is for another hearing. And currently activated to fight the devastated fires around los angeles in support of our neighbors.
▶ 3:45:41Sen. Rosen: We therefore play a critical role in national security and the person who holds position of secretary of defense matters greatly to nevada service members. But every single person who serves in the military, we talked about, my esteemed colleague talked about recruitment and retention. One day they will become a veteran.
▶ 3:46:04Sen. Rosen: My veterans and folks serving active-duty now are concerned about.what you think dod does not have jurisdiction over nevada's 200,000 plus veterans, but I am interested in your views about the service members once they transitioned out of the military given the influence you would have while they are in service, if confirmed.
▶ 3:46:25Sen. Rosen: In 2019 on a segment of fox and friends you said vso's encourage veterans to apply for every government benefit they can ever get after they leave the service. You stated you don't want to quote be dependent on government assistance from the v.a. Based on injuries or illnesses that might have arisen from your military service.
▶ 3:46:47Sen. Rosen: I want to ask you a few yes or no westerns about veterans, understanding you don't have jurisdiction but it is important to morale, recruitment, and retention, and how we respect others in this country. Yes or no please. Do you believe vso's are wrong to support veterans in obtaining the benefits they have rightfully earned and deserved when they signed the line like you did for your service?
▶ 3:47:14Mr. Hegseth: Veterans deserve the benefits they earned. I have been in battles with traditional -- we had differences of it pinion about how to deliver.
▶ 3:47:23Sen. Rosen: Yes or no? Are they wrong?
▶ 3:47:26Mr. Hegseth: Vso's are a broad term.
▶ 3:47:30Sen. Rosen: Should they be able to help veterans obtain the benefits they have earned, yes or no? Should anyone?
▶ 3:47:38Mr. Hegseth: Every veteran should have rapid access to all the benefits.
▶ 3:47:42Sen. Rosen: Should they be shamed for having sought the benefits they have earned? Should they be ashamed to seek up benefits, yes or no?
▶ 3:47:51Mr. Hegseth: I think we should be ashamed as a nation of the amount of veterans that commit suicide because they hit a brick wall over the bureaucracy of the v.a..
▶ 3:48:01Sen. Rosen: How about veterans who suffer lasting illnesses or injuries due to military service? Do you think they deserve our support and assistance? Your answers to these are too broad. People want to know, are you willing to support our veterans organizations that will help our veterans get every damn thing they deserve because they signed on the dotted line to keep us safe like you did. Will you?
▶ 3:48:30Mr. Hegseth: With all due humility I don't think there is anyone in this room who has worked harder to ensure our veterans are taken care of. It has been a passion of my life alongside so many on this dais. It is a recruiting crisis.
▶ 3:48:46Sen. Rosen: Veterans are dependent on the government. You said veterans are dependent on the government. You believe veterans getting these benefits are dependent on the government or is it a benefit they earned and deserved through their service?
▶ 3:49:02Mr. Hegseth: They earned it.
▶ 3:49:04Sen. Rosen: You changed your position. Where you believe they were dependent now you believe they earned and reserved it. It is disrespectful to change that position. These are benefits people may need throughout their life and may not know when they need them, or how they will need them. They need to be there when they do. I will move to my next question. America's role in the world.
▶ 3:49:33Sen. Rosen: Our alliances, the threats america is facing are wide-ranging from china to russia to iranian backed terrorism. Do agree with the national defense strategy that the U.S. cannot compete with china, russia and their partners alone and cannot win a war that way? This is a quote from the national defense strategy. Is it your interpretation that an america first policy is america alone? Does that include abandoning allies and partners like taiwan, nato, israel and others?
▶ 3:50:05Sen. Rosen: If we can't win alone and don't strengthen partnerships, I would say your position laces us on a strategic path to lose to our adversaries. Maybe you're ok with choosing that path for america. I want to know how you square that position with the positions you articulated in your book, where you wrote that nato is a relic, at best a distraction, and should be scrapped and remade. Are you ok with sending us down a path we can't win?
▶ 3:50:33Mr. Hegseth: Our c1 our allies and friends of had no better friend than donald trump. In every way, in ways this administration has not. He has ensured the nato alliance has become more robust. >> donald trump who -- is donald trump going to stand behind ukraine?
▶ 3:51:00Mr. Hegseth: Are you going to stand behind ukraine? President-elect trump said he will end the war in ukraine before he takes office. Less than a week before he is inaugurated, do you have knowledge of a plan that he will use to rapidly end the war with ukraine? Do you believe it is feasible? That does not make concessions to vladimir putin who was a brutal dictator.
▶ 3:51:23Mr. Hegseth: Are you going to give president-elect trump military advice you have given others to achieve the objective of us winning the war in ukraine? How do you think a rapid end to the war that vladimir putin will affect the standing across the world? >> I will always give clear guidance to the president of the united states on matters like that.
▶ 3:51:47Sen. Rosen: Do you think that will hurt our credibility with our allies and partners, and do you not believe our adversaries -- >> you can take that for the record. Senator schmitt.
▶ 3:52:00Sen. Schmitt: I would like to submit a letter submitted by Mr. christopher on the former director of operations. His letter states the suggestion that the funds were misused for personal gains and other improper purposes is categorically false. Throughout my time working with pete headset, he demonstrated exceptional integrity.
▶ 3:52:26Chair Wicker: Without objection, so ordered.
▶ 3:52:28Sen. Schmitt: Good to see you here today pay think you for your service. And your willingness to serve. I also want to thank you for your clarity. In articulating the vision you have for the department of defense. And restoring an evo's, a warrior eat those. Which is in stark contrast to the ethers we have seen the last four years which is of weakness and wokeness.
▶ 3:52:57Sen. Schmitt: I want to drill down on a few things specifically and exactly how we have gotten to where we have gotten with recruiting and morale. Di. There has been discussion about this. For those watching at home, it is not about giving everybody opportunity. It is routing and cultural marxism. The idea that you pit the room, any room, with a presser versus a press -- with a presser versus oppressed. It is poison.
▶ 3:53:25Sen. Schmitt: It has no business whatsoever in our military. I think the american people have spoken loudly and clearly about this. They are tired of this peer they are tired of woke ideology. To my democrat colleagues on the other site, if you have not picked up on the, you missed the plot. That is what november 5 partially was about. Let's talk specifically about these dei programs that have been funded.
▶ 3:53:50Sen. Schmitt: In our academy, the air force academy, it was advised as disfavored language to refer to your mom and dad as mom and dad. Dear mom and dad, I'm writing home. Don't say that. That is insane. We are all just people. You can't say that either.
▶ 3:54:15Sen. Schmitt: In an effort to police this, in a 1984 orwellian novel, there was actually an eyes and ears program, to rat on your fellow students who I would -- you might say mom and dad. Or who may say, in a tough situation, we are all just people. Can't say that. This wasn't limited to our academies.
▶ 3:54:40Sen. Schmitt: The secretary of the air force, our current secretary of the air force, in a memo from august of 2022, thought we had too many white officers. Advocated for quotas. If you crunch the numbers, that meant 5800 white officers who have worked really hard to be fired. In the united states of america, I don't know how we got here and by the way, the air force is not alone.
▶ 3:55:11Sen. Schmitt: The navy touted a drag queen influencer. This stuff is insane. If people wonder why recruiting has dropped off, and let me go through a few numbers, and I want to get your comments on how we fix this, because it has gone off the rails. In 2022, the army miss their recruiting goal of 60,000 soldiers by over 15,000. In 2023, the navy missed their recruiting goals by over 7000.
▶ 3:55:37Sen. Schmitt: In 2022, the air force could not meet their numbers even though they lowered their standards. They have lowered their standards to meet numbers they still can't get to. Mr. hegseth, we have got to fix this. I think what you have demonstrated today is that you have the talent and the ability and the desire to fix it, how are you going to fix it?
▶ 3:56:03Mr. Hegseth: Thank you for the question. First and foremost, upfront. We have to tear out di and crt initiatives root and branch out of institutions.
▶ 3:56:14Sen. Schmitt: Hundred percent.
▶ 3:56:15Mr. Hegseth: And you have to put in army, navy and air force secretaries, civilian positions, at the helm who are committed to the same priorities that the president is and if confirmed, the secretary of defense will be. Sunday clear message that this is not a time for equity. Equity is a different word than equality. Equality is the bedrock of our military.
▶ 3:56:42Mr. Hegseth: Black, white, doesn't matter, we treat you equally based on who you are, the image of god, as an individual. We all get the same bad haircuts. You are not an individual, you are part of a group. Equity prescribes some sort of an outcome based on differing attributes that we have that divide us. What skin color are you? What gender are you? And then infuses that into institutions which manifest in things like quotas, formal or informal, which does what to morale? Send it in the tubes.
▶ 3:57:13Mr. Hegseth: It makes people feel like they are being judged by something other than how good they are at their job, which is poisonous.
▶ 3:57:23Sen. Schmitt: On top of this recruiting crisis, that was not enough for this administration. During the covid hysteria and in their attempt to fire 100,000 people who work for bigger companies because they did not get the covid shot, four masked five-year-olds, they decided to make this a central plank in their policy at the pentagon. 8000 -- we have a recruiting crisis. 8000 well-trained men and women were fired, were fired. Will you commit today, Mr.
▶ 3:57:55Sen. Schmitt: Hegseth, to recruit these folks back, to give them back pay, and give them an apology from the united states government for how they were disrespected?
▶ 3:58:03Mr. Hegseth: Senator, I will commit to this because the commander has committed to this. That not only will they be reinstated, they will receive an apology, backpay, and rank that they lost because they were forced out, due to an experimental vaccine.
▶ 3:58:19Sen. Schmitt: Thank you. I just want to say, for all of the talk of experience and not coming from the same cocktail parties that permanent washington is used to, you are a breath of fresh air. And again, if you were not paying attention to what this election was all about, it was about the disruptors versus the establishment.
▶ 3:58:44Sen. Schmitt: The american people have had enough of the business as usual for the same people that we line up for the same jobs who give us the same results. We need somebody who is going to go in there and fight for innovation, fight for change. I think you are that person. I appreciate your willingness to sit here and listen to some of these undignified attacks. It's ridiculous. Thank you.
▶ 3:59:04Chair Wicker: Captain mark kelly. >> thank you, Mr. chairman. Congratulations on your chairmanship. I want to make a request to the committee that we have a second round of questions.
▶ 3:59:15Chair Wicker: Pursuant to the bipartisan staff agreement that we have reached late last year, this will be one round of seven minute questions. >> thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 3:59:32Chair Wicker: I will be happy to recognize my colleague, Mr. reed. >> I think it is important to note for the record that when secretary hagel was here, we had three rounds of questions. When secretary carter was here, we had two rounds of questioning. And I cannot recall any time where I have denied, as a chairman, a member to ask for a second round and received the second round. We are violating the principles of the committee.
▶ 4:00:03Chair Wicker: I just want to go on the record.
▶ 4:00:04Chair Wicker: And your comment is noted. >> thank you. >> district hegseth, thank you for being here tonight think you for your service to this country. Few nominees come into this room with all of the necessary experience to do this job to be secretary. We get that. It is a reflection on just how big of a job this is.
▶ 4:00:29Chair Wicker: What I want to understand is whether or not you bring any of the necessary experience that this job requires. Here is where I am concerned. Senator coleman, and introducing you, and this is a quote, he said he has struggled and overcome great personal challenges. You walk in here saying you have had personal and character issues in your past including heavy drinking, which you wrote about.
▶ 4:00:58Chair Wicker: You said, and this is a quote from you, that you said, I sit before you as an open book. Yet you have not actually said what personal challenges it is that you have overcome when you have been asked about them. I'm going to give you an opportunity here to be as forthright as you say you want to be. While leading concern veterans of america, there were specific cases cited by individuals about your conduct.
▶ 4:01:28Chair Wicker: I am going to go through a few of them. I just want you to tell me if these are true or false. Very simple. On memorial day, between 14, at an event in virginia, you need to be carried out of the event for being intoxicated.
▶ 4:01:44Mr. Hegseth: Senator -- >> just true or false? Very simple. Summer of 2014 in cleveland, drunk in public with the cba team.
▶ 4:01:56Mr. Hegseth: Anonymous smears. >> I'm just asking for true or false answers. An event in north carolina, drunk and front of three young female staff members after you had instituted a no alcohol policy and then river stood. True or false.
▶ 4:02:13Mr. Hegseth: Anonymous smears. >> at the cba christmas party at the grand hyatt in washington, D.C., you are noticeably intoxicated and had to be carried up to your room. Is that true or false?
▶ 4:02:28Mr. Hegseth: Anonymous smears.
▶ 4:02:31Sen. Slotkin: Phase stafford stated that you passed out in the back of a party bus. True or false?
▶ 4:02:35Mr. Hegseth: Anonymous smears.
▶ 4:02:38Sen. Slotkin: In any 14 while in louisiana on it -- on official business for cba, did you take your staff, including young female staff members to a strip club?
▶ 4:02:50Mr. Hegseth: Absolutely not. Anonymous smears.
▶ 4:02:53Sen. Slotkin: So -- [indiscernible] is it accurate that the organization reached a financial settlement with a female staffer who claimed to be at a strip club with you, and there was a colleague who attempted to sexually assault her? Was there a financial settlement?
▶ 4:03:20Mr. Hegseth: Senator, I was not involved in that. I don't know the nature of how that played out.
▶ 4:03:23Sen. Slotkin: But you understand there was a financial settlement for a young female staffer who accused another member of the organization, not you, of sexual assault in a strip club?
▶ 4:03:40Mr. Hegseth: We have multiple statements on the record referring to that.
▶ 4:03:43Sen. Slotkin: You claim you were not there when that occurred.
▶ 4:03:44Mr. Hegseth: Absolutely not.
▶ 4:03:47Sen. Slotkin: Now, the behavior I cited, if true, do you think this behavior of intoxication going into these type of establishments, women on your staff being so uncomfortable that they have to file these harassment claims, do you think this is appropriate behavior for a leader?
▶ 4:04:09Mr. Hegseth: Senator, the overwhelming majority of anyone who has worked for me, including the on the record statements that have been submitted, with their name on it, on their -- on the record, are the overwhelming preponderance of evidence that testify to my leadership and professionalism in leading. My leadership has been completely impugned on these veterans organizations that did fantastic work.
▶ 4:04:38Sen. Kelly: Mr. hegseth, I'm not even going to go into the accusations.
▶ 4:04:44Mr. Hegseth: Financial books with integrity, how many -- everybody who runs a campaign --
▶ 4:04:48Sen. Kelly: I have limited time. I'm not going to get into the accusations that come from fox news. We have some of your fox news colleagues here. There are multiple instances of accusations against you of drinking on the job.
▶ 4:05:05Mr. Hegseth: All anonymous, all refuted by my colleagues who I have worked with for 10 years at 6:00 a.m. To 9:00 p.m.
▶ 4:05:10Sen. Kelly: The challenge here from me, Mr. hegseth is when there is discussion about personal challenges. And you, admittedly, had issues with heavy drinking. It's hard to square this. To square the circle here. It is kind of a difficult thing to do.
▶ 4:05:27Sen. Kelly: Let me ask you, I have about 90 seconds left here, if you had to answer these questions about sexual assault against you and your drinking and your personal conduct, would that have been different if you were under oath?
▶ 4:05:42Mr. Hegseth: Senator, all I'm pointing out is the false claims against me.
▶ 4:05:48Sen. Kelly: I take it you do not want to answer that question. I walked into this hearing this morning concerned that you have not demonstrated adequate leadership in your civilian roles. And this is a dangerous world we are living in. America cannot afford a secretary of defense who is unprepared for that mission. I'm going to leave with concerns about your transparency. You say you have had personal issues in your past.
▶ 4:06:16Sen. Kelly: Yet when asked about those very issues, you blame an anonymous smear campaign. Even when many of these claims are not anonymous. Which is it? Have you overcome personal issues? Or are you the target of a smear campaign? It can't be both. It is clear to me that you are not being honest with us or the american people, because you know the truth would disqualify you from getting the job.
▶ 4:06:43Sen. Kelly: And just as concerning as each of the specific disqualifying accusations are, what concerns me just as much is the idea of having a secretary of defense who is not transparent. Thank you, Mr. chairman. I yield back my two seconds.
▶ 4:06:59Chair Wicker: Thank you, senator kelly. I would at this point ask unanimous consent to introduce into the record letters by tina kingston, louisiana state director, concerned veterans for america and holly talley, louisiana local director of concern veterans for america, attesting to the appropriateness of Mr. hegseth's conduct with regard to female staffers.
▶ 4:07:31Chair Wicker: Without objection, that is added to the record. Senator banks coming you are now recognized.
▶ 4:07:38Sen. Bennet: 's, thank you, Mr. chairman. You have conducted yourself very well today. So well, that I believe it is incumbent upon this committee to confirm you asap to get you on the job to clean up the mess that we have at the pentagon ongoing at this moment. Because of the leadership there over the last four years has failed us.
▶ 4:07:59Sen. Bennet: President biden's first year in office, the department of defense spent over 5 million man-hours on "counter extremism" and diversity training. What usi might call woke training or dei. The administration has refused to provide us more recent data than that first year. We know it is exponentially more man-hours wasted on di over the last four years.
▶ 4:08:35Sen. Bennet: What is likely -- president biden's administration, what could those 5 million man-hours have been used for?
▶ 4:08:42Mr. Hegseth: Senator, that is a lot of service members, sitting in a lot of briefs, hearing about a lot of threats or political perspectives that might be dangerous, that comport -- do not comport to threats that exist inside the force or ideas that introduce critical race theory or dei, or climate change initiatives. That they and their commands. Every time one of those happens from tickets pushed down the chain of command.
▶ 4:09:14Mr. Hegseth: That also includes new layers of leadership that have been created under this administration. Committed to enforcing those types of di and crt initiatives. We hear 5 million man-hours and that sounds like a lot. The more troubling aspect is how many training hours that takes away from a company commander or battalion commander or wing commander who is out there trying to maintain their force, which is already constrained because of what the biden administration has done to the defense budget.
▶ 4:09:42Mr. Hegseth: They are having to choose between the political prerogatives of the civilians who are demanding more dei and gender quotas and the readiness of their forces. I believe this pentagon is prepared because of our commander-in-chief for a secretary of defense, should I be confirmed, that focuses on these issues and they are ready to respond. They want to pack their rucksacks and train because they understand we live in a dangerous point -- a dangerous place.
▶ 4:10:10Sen. Bank: That is a key point. While the priority of the biden-austin led pentagon was on dei and woke training, one of the biggest embarrassments in american history happened when we lost 13 of our heroes in the botched withdraw from afghanistan.
▶ 4:10:29Sen. Bank: Secretary austen testified before the house armed services committee a couple years ago and responding to a question from me, said he had "no regrets about what happened in afghanistan." I wonder, what do you make of that?
▶ 4:10:41Mr. Hegseth: Senator, it's shameful. They still touted as the most successful airlift in american history. When the rest of us all saw was truly laid before our eyes. Utter failure. A destruction of military legacy there. Abandonment of our allies. ? American troops. -- death of american troops. And no answers and no accountability on the others I.
▶ 4:11:09Mr. Hegseth: And what was unleashed because of what happened in afghanistan. The october 7 attacks. An invasion into ukraine. The world. Recognized weakness for what it was. And who bore the brunt for it? The troops on the front line doing an impossible job whose security was the taliban because there was no plan for this under the biden administration. Yet, not a single person, the only person held accountable in those moments was a marine corps lt. Col.
▶ 4:11:39Mr. Hegseth: Who had the courage to stand up and say, someone should take accountability for that. When that microcosm becomes the reality of the perception of the american military or america's commitment to victory and success and positive outcomes, the world responds to that. President trump is going to restore real deterrence by bringing a real warrior culture back, rebuilding our military and ending wars properly.
▶ 4:12:07Mr. Hegseth: If we have to fight them, winning them decisively.
▶ 4:12:10Sen. Banks: I served in afghanistan, you served in afghanistan. 75% of our nation's veterans disagree with how the withdraw from afghanistan was handled. The embarrassment it. What that is done has directly impacted our historic recruitment crisis in this country. You have already talked about that. How do we fix it?
▶ 4:12:35Sen. Banks: How do we bring pride back to wearing the uniform for the next generation, to inspire them to do what you and I did to raise our right hand to take that oath and serve this great country?
▶ 4:12:44Mr. Hegseth: Really do think it comes back to strong, clear leadership. Patriotic, pro-american leadership. That says we are not quite to focus on all the other political prerogatives. That's why, we all have political perspectives. I've said this before and I will say it again, in uniform, none of that matters. Who you vote for does not matter.
▶ 4:13:10Mr. Hegseth: When the perception of that changes, then you don't want people deciding whether to serve based on a political party in power. That is a dangerous thing for continuity inside your military. And its fragile right now. President trump, and if I'm confirmed, with my leadership, we will restore the continuity of an apolitical military that asked decisively and only based on merit. It sounds basic but they are fundamental.
▶ 4:13:34Sen. Banks: You and I agree that wokeness is weakness. Do you support racial quotas in recruitment or promotions in the united states military?
▶ 4:13:43Mr. Hegseth: I do not support any form of racial quota.
▶ 4:13:46Sen. Banks: Do you support affirmative action in our nation's military academies?
▶ 4:13:51Mr. Hegseth: I only support hiring and promoting and admitting the best and brightest whenever -- whatever their background is.
▶ 4:13:59Sen. Banks: I think that is very important. Lloyd austin, the secretary, later went awol. He disappeared for days and never told the president, didn't inform the president's chief of staff that he was going into the hospital. With that have occurred on your watch?
▶ 4:14:12Mr. Hegseth: No, senator. I know in any one of those plans, if I had decided to go awol, uniform or around that, that would have been a concern.
▶ 4:14:27Sen. Banks: I believe accountability matters. No one has been held accountable for what happened in afghanistan. It has impacted this country greatly. I applaud you and president trump for bringing accountability back to our pentagon. Ideal fact.
▶ 4:14:39Chair Wicker: The chair recognizes the distinguished ranking member for unanimous consent request. >> Mr. chairman, I would like to submit an article discussing some of the issues of the readiness and dea discussion. There has been a comment that 5.9 million man-hours have been used for dei.
▶ 4:15:03Chair Wicker: General might clarify that that is an estimate out of more than 2 million man-hours that the department of defense invested during that time period.
▶ 4:15:16Chair Wicker: Where is this published?
▶ 4:15:17Sen. Reed: This is published by megan myers, and I will get the --
▶ 4:15:21Chair Wicker: Ok.
▶ 4:15:24Sen. Reed: Military.com.
▶ 4:15:26Chair Wicker: Without objection, it will be admitted to the record. And senator slotkin, welcome to the committee, you are recognized.
▶ 4:15:39Sen. Scott: Can think you for recognizing the great carl levin as you introduce me. We miss him in michigan. For those who I have not met in my one
▶ 4:16:29Sen. Scott: No president has the right to use the uniform military in a way that violates the U.S. constitution, and further taints the military as that apolitical institution we all want. Our founders designed the system so that we had posse, taught us, that we would not use active duty military inside the united states and make american citizens potentially scared of their own military. We went through our own experience with that with the british.
▶ 4:16:58Sen. Scott: As the secretary of defense, you will be the one man standing in the breach, should president trump given an illegal order. I'm not saying he will. If he does, you are going to be the guy that he calls to implement this order. Thank you for your service.
▶ 4:17:35Sen. Scott: >> is there anything a commander in chief could ask you to do with the uniform military that would be in violation of the U.S. constitution? >> anybody of any party -- >> are using you would stand in the breach and pushback if you were given an illegal order?
▶ 4:17:53Mr. Hegseth: Start by saying I reject the premise -- >> this is not a hypothetical. Your predecessor in a trump administration, secretary esper, was asked and did use uniform military to clear unarmed protesters. He later apologized publicly for those actions.
▶ 4:18:38Mr. Hegseth: Was he right or wrong to apologize?
▶ 4:18:41Mr. Hegseth: I'm not going to put words into the mouth of secretary esper.
▶ 4:18:44Sen. Slotkin: He said it himself. What are you scared of? Did he do the right thing by apologizing? Say yes or no, you can send a. Donald trump asked for the active duty 82nd airborne to be deployed during that same time. Secretary esper has written that he convinced him against that decision.
▶ 4:19:07Sen. Slotkin: If donald trump asked you to use the 82nd airborne in law enforcement roles in washington, c1 >> I'm not going to get out of conversations I would have with the president written >> president trump said he would consider using act of duty will a terry against the enemy within. Have you been involved in discussions with using the U.S.
▶ 4:19:35Sen. Slotkin: Military active duty inside the U.S.?
▶ 4:19:38Mr. Hegseth: I'm glad we got to the topic of border security and national security because it has been advocated and ignored the last four years. >> you are about to be secretary of defense, have you been involved in discussions about using the active duty military inside the united states?
▶ 4:19:59Mr. Hegseth: I am not yet the secretary of defense. >> so you have not been in these conversations? Have you been in conversations? You will be in charge of 3 million people. The active duty I know you care about. Have you been in conversations about using the active-duty in any way? Whether it is setting up in detention camps and policing dangerous cities have you been involved in those conversations?
▶ 4:20:29Mr. Hegseth: Certainly I have related to doing things this administration have not which is secure the southern border and not allow floods of illegals into the country through an invasion that threatens the american people and there are ways in which the military is playing a role to include 5000 national guardsmen from indiana and texas were at the border right now.
▶ 4:21:04Mr. Hegseth: >> we have seen how it is difficult for them because it is not the training and military uniform comes with. Do you support active military and supporting detention camps.
▶ 4:21:22Mr. Hegseth: President trump will preserve border -- order at the border. >> these are things I think we both care about, the you know ford -- uniformed code of military justice. You said you will not change it, yes or no?
▶ 4:21:46Mr. Hegseth: Those are laws senator set by congress. >> so you will not attempt to change it. You also said that jagged officers are potentially people who put their own interest in their own medals and promotions ahead of the troops. Senator lindsey graham was a jag officer most of his life. Is that what you believe about those who implement our justice system in the U.S. military?
▶ 4:22:13Mr. Hegseth: I was speaking about particular jagged officers I have dealt with.
▶ 4:22:19Sen. Slotkin: Are you going to get involved in implementation of the U.S. military code of justice?
▶ 4:22:26Mr. Hegseth: Ultimately you will be a big part of my job.
▶ 4:22:33Sen. Slotkin: Is cq brown on your list and the warrior boards to be removed from his position?
▶ 4:22:41Mr. Hegseth: Every single senior officer will be reviewed based on meritocracy, standards, lethality and with regards to lawful orders they will get.
▶ 4:22:51Chairman Wicker: Thank you senator slotkin. I will recognize senator shaheen for unanimous consent request.
▶ 4:22:59Sen. Shaheen: I have a request from a former general who served 35 years and most recently was commander of the 94th regional readiness command who was asked opposing Mr. hegseth's letter being entered into the record.
▶ 4:23:19Chairman Wicker: If there is no objection will be entered. I present a host of letters and op eds from former coworkers at vets for freedom as well as fox news channel. I also have letters and op ads from veterans and iraqis and afghanis helped by Mr. hegseth.
▶ 4:23:49Chairman Wicker: I ask unanimous consent to introduce these letters and op ads. Without objection, if so ordered. Senator, you have been very patient. >> thank you, entering a support letter for Mr.
▶ 4:24:05Chairman Wicker: Hegseth submitted by nearly 90 former soldiers who served with pete in combat I would like to submit a statement from 86 of them who support his nomination though they come from different agencies with his commitment to our country.
▶ 4:24:22Chairman Wicker: Two items? >> sorry, one item.
▶ 4:24:26Chairman Wicker: Without objection it will be entered. >> I will ask you questions because I want to hear your answer. How many genders are there?
▶ 4:24:37Mr. Hegseth: Senator there are two genders. >> I'm on board. >> how many push-ups can you do?
▶ 4:24:56Mr. Hegseth: I did five sets of 47 this morning. >> what you think are most important strategic base is in the pacific?
▶ 4:25:08Mr. Hegseth: Guam is strategically significant. >> how may rounds of .556 can you fit in the magazine of an m4 rifle?
▶ 4:25:20Mr. Hegseth: Depends on the magazine, but standard issue is three? >> what about the peretta?
▶ 4:25:27Mr. Hegseth: A 9mm. >> what kind of batteries do you put in your night vision goggles?
▶ 4:25:35Mr. Hegseth: Duracell? [laughter] >> you're representing qualifications that show you understand what the war fighter deals with every single day and the battlefields.
▶ 4:25:49Mr. Hegseth: You need to understand what happens in the front line where troops will be and what happens unfortunately in this country, decisions made in rooms like this, add decisions, they rarely come from families that sit in rooms like this, they come from lower middle income families sometimes are in the way out but join because they want to go to college, maybe they love this country.
▶ 4:26:20Mr. Hegseth: For whatever reason they joined. When people like us screw up, they don't come home. That is the one thing. Senator coleman, we sat together and asked one question. You know what that was?
▶ 4:26:35Mr. Hegseth: Will you have the backs of the war fighters. >> what will be your number one priority. I don't care what the letters and articles say. I have been part of a smear campaign, I get it. I care that you will have one thing in your mind and you told me what that was. With that that you have my support. Am sorry you have to go through a process like this. But it is one of the most important jobs in the world. Thank you for your answers.
▶ 4:27:06Mr. Hegseth: I have one final question, more of a technical question. To fix the army in this country is a one or two year problem. We can make bullets or rifles. Fix the air force, may be a five-year problem. Fixing the navy is a decades long pursuit. You don't have all the power.
▶ 4:27:30Mr. Hegseth: But how are you going to lead an initiative with the dod to reinvigorate our shipbuilding industry to compete with china because freedom of navigation is critical to our economy and the global economy. It will be an important task.
▶ 4:27:43Mr. Hegseth: That is a critical question which is why I am grateful president trump has said definitively to me that shipbuilding will be one of his top priorities. It does go into pulling things up into the osd's office to put a spotlight on it, make sure bureaucracy does not strangle important initiatives. We need to reinvigorate our industrial base to include shipbuilding capacity.
▶ 4:28:14Mr. Hegseth: Some is it -- some of it is east, west or on the great lakes. Problems our shipyards are facing is significant and we have seen investment from this committee because of the shortfalls. The manpower issues and everything else. We also see adversaries whose shipbuilding capacity, multitudes beyond our capabilities.
▶ 4:28:40Mr. Hegseth: It needs to be a rapid investment and we need to incentivize outside entities to fill the gap. You can talk about uav's which are important but there is a future of unmanned underwater vehicles that will be part of amplifying the impact of our navy because this administration has allowed our number of ships to drop below 300.
▶ 4:29:06Mr. Hegseth: It is set to projection of 340 or 350 but does not create the capacity to address it. If we put america first we have to project power. That means shipbuilding, historic investments in our defense industrial base and driving innovation and cost savings in ways that only business leaders inside the pentagon can do.
▶ 4:29:33Mr. Hegseth: >> I don't think any board in the world would have hired steve jobs, elon musk or mark zuckerberg and they founded their companies, either. This country was founded by young people with a great vision. Thank you for being willing to serve the country again and thank you for being here today. I yield back.
▶ 4:29:51Chairman Wicker: Thank you. You yields back the balance of your time. You will notify members of a specific time until which the record will remain open for submission of question for the record. >> yes. That will be a day or two.
▶ 4:30:19Chairman Wicker: This concludes today's hearing. I want to thank everyone in this hearing is adjourned. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap.org]