Pete Hegseth's Defense Takes a Hit as Congress Scrutinizes His Handling of Boat Strike in Venezuela
A Senate confirmation process that was barely a squeaker has turned into a gauntlet for Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, three months after he took the helm. Hegseth is facing mounting criticism from lawmakers who question his leadership style and capacity to handle the complexities of military operations.
In September, Hegseth told an unusual gathering of top military brass that they should not be bound by "stupid rules of engagement." He urged them to prioritize lethality and authority over what he described as "politically correct" regulations. However, some lawmakers say this approach borders on illegal military action.
The situation came to a head after a special operations team reportedly attacked survivors of a strike on an alleged drug boat off the coast of Venezuela. Some lawmakers claim that the second strike would have violated the laws of armed conflict, sparking concerns about Hegseth's judgment and fitness for office.
Hegseth has vowed to bring a "warrior culture" to the Pentagon, discarding rules that govern how soldiers conduct themselves in high-pressure situations. However, lawmakers are taking issue with his approach, citing concerns over accountability and the potential for war crimes.
The situation is further complicated by Hegseth's decision to communicate with lawmakers through popular messaging app Signal, rather than through official channels. The Pentagon Inspector General has launched an investigation into this matter, which has raised questions about Hegseth's commitment to transparency and oversight.
As the scrutiny mounts, some Republicans are beginning to distance themselves from Hegseth. Vice President JD Vance has defended him, but other allies have been more critical. Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri dismissed criticism as "nonsense," saying that Hegseth is a non-traditional leader who doesn't fit into Washington's elite.
The controversy has sparked tensions between some Republican lawmakers and the Pentagon. Capitol Hill has grown frustrated with the slow pace of information on Trump's campaign to destroy boats carrying drugs off the coast of Venezuela, and there are calls for greater transparency from the Pentagon.
Hegseth has spoken to both Sen. Roger Wicker and Rep. Mike Rogers, the top lawmakers overseeing the military, but it remains unclear how much Republicans will push back on the president's support for him.
The situation is a potentially existential moment for Hegseth as Congress launches an investigation into his handling of the boat strike. The chairs of the armed services committees, along with the top Democrats, will hear private testimony from Navy Vice Adm. Frank "Mitch" Bradley, who ordered the second strike on the survivors.
In this toxic environment, some lawmakers are pointing back to Hegseth's tumultuous confirmation hearing, where issues were raised over his management of nonprofits and allegations of a sexual assault and abuse. Sen. Tim Kaine says that you don't suddenly change your judgment level or character when confirmed as secretary of defense – instead, the things that have been part of your character just become much more dire and existential.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how much support Hegseth will receive from Republicans, particularly Trump. With the investigation underway, one thing is certain: Hegseth's future as Pentagon chief hangs in the balance.
A Senate confirmation process that was barely a squeaker has turned into a gauntlet for Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, three months after he took the helm. Hegseth is facing mounting criticism from lawmakers who question his leadership style and capacity to handle the complexities of military operations.
In September, Hegseth told an unusual gathering of top military brass that they should not be bound by "stupid rules of engagement." He urged them to prioritize lethality and authority over what he described as "politically correct" regulations. However, some lawmakers say this approach borders on illegal military action.
The situation came to a head after a special operations team reportedly attacked survivors of a strike on an alleged drug boat off the coast of Venezuela. Some lawmakers claim that the second strike would have violated the laws of armed conflict, sparking concerns about Hegseth's judgment and fitness for office.
Hegseth has vowed to bring a "warrior culture" to the Pentagon, discarding rules that govern how soldiers conduct themselves in high-pressure situations. However, lawmakers are taking issue with his approach, citing concerns over accountability and the potential for war crimes.
The situation is further complicated by Hegseth's decision to communicate with lawmakers through popular messaging app Signal, rather than through official channels. The Pentagon Inspector General has launched an investigation into this matter, which has raised questions about Hegseth's commitment to transparency and oversight.
As the scrutiny mounts, some Republicans are beginning to distance themselves from Hegseth. Vice President JD Vance has defended him, but other allies have been more critical. Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri dismissed criticism as "nonsense," saying that Hegseth is a non-traditional leader who doesn't fit into Washington's elite.
The controversy has sparked tensions between some Republican lawmakers and the Pentagon. Capitol Hill has grown frustrated with the slow pace of information on Trump's campaign to destroy boats carrying drugs off the coast of Venezuela, and there are calls for greater transparency from the Pentagon.
Hegseth has spoken to both Sen. Roger Wicker and Rep. Mike Rogers, the top lawmakers overseeing the military, but it remains unclear how much Republicans will push back on the president's support for him.
The situation is a potentially existential moment for Hegseth as Congress launches an investigation into his handling of the boat strike. The chairs of the armed services committees, along with the top Democrats, will hear private testimony from Navy Vice Adm. Frank "Mitch" Bradley, who ordered the second strike on the survivors.
In this toxic environment, some lawmakers are pointing back to Hegseth's tumultuous confirmation hearing, where issues were raised over his management of nonprofits and allegations of a sexual assault and abuse. Sen. Tim Kaine says that you don't suddenly change your judgment level or character when confirmed as secretary of defense – instead, the things that have been part of your character just become much more dire and existential.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how much support Hegseth will receive from Republicans, particularly Trump. With the investigation underway, one thing is certain: Hegseth's future as Pentagon chief hangs in the balance.
The whole thing with Pete Hegseth just seems so reckless 
. I mean, who decides that 'stupid rules of engagement' need to be thrown out the window? That sounds like a recipe for disaster 
. And now we're hearing that he's using Signal instead of official channels? Like, what are we even looking at here? It's just more proof that he's not playing by the rules 
. The whole thing just reeks of a 'warrior culture' gone wrong 
. I hope Congress takes its time to really get to the bottom of this and isn't afraid to take action if necessary 
Pete Hegseth's gotta answer for those boat strike survivors and it looks like Congress is giving him a hard time about his approach to war 
You'd think you're supposed to be transparent about how you communicate with lawmakers. Come on, Pete! 
. And what's going on with Trump? Is he really gonna stick it out with Hegseth or pull the plug? 
. As Sen. Tim Kaine said, you don't suddenly change who you are when you're confirmed as SecDef... that's some serious red flag right there 
. And those "rules of engagement" comments he made? Creepy 
. I hope Congress keeps poking holes in his story until he gives some solid answers 
. I'm not surprised he's getting pushback from Republicans, but this is getting serious. The Pentagon Inspector General should definitely be looking into all these shady dealings 
.
. But nope, this guy is getting away with some serious dodgy behavior... and it's all because Trump wants him in his corner 
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. I mean, I get that he might want to be more informal, but come on, Pentagon chief? You gotta maintain some level of transparency and accountability.
. But isn't that just code for "he's doing whatever he wants"? I think there needs to be more scrutiny on his actions and decisions.
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. I get that we need people with unconventional thinking, but not when it comes to military operations. We can't have our SecDef making stuff up as he goes along 
plus what's up with the signal thing? seems sketchy 
and honestly i don't think he's being transparent enough about what went down in that boat strike 
it's like he's trying to sweep things under the rug 
anyway can only hope he comes out of this with his head held high 