Veterans: Pete Hegseth’s immoral behavior disqualifies him from leading our military | Opinion
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, has no business leading America’s Armed Forces. Sens. Risch and Crapo should vote against his nomination.
As Army veterans, we know firsthand that a well-functioning military must be non-partisan, full stop. Partisan politics are toxic to unit cohesion, mission execution and military ethics. When military leaders are more loyal to a political party or its leader than they are to the United States Constitution, the rot sets in quickly.
Hegseth has made clear he intends to “clean house” at the Pentagon. Changing policy is one thing, but ridding the military of leaders who aren’t MAGA enough to satisfy your belief system spells disaster for unit discipline. Will military leaders now need to show fealty to Donald Trump in order to wear the uniform? Will Hegseth demand loyalty to Trump over Congress? Or is it simply a soldier’s gender or religion (or lack thereof) that Hegseth determines to be disqualifying?
It shouldn’t be this way, and in the modern United States military it hasn’t been. During the early years of the Civil War, Union generals were too often selected based on party loyalty and political connections, resulting in leaders without the military competency to win on the battlefield — rank-and-file soldiers paid the ultimate price. Once professionalism and constitutional fidelity replaced partisanship, the Union Army was unstoppable.
The Department of Defense oversees 2 million civilian and military professionals that constitute the world’s most powerful military. Hegseth’s primary qualification appears to be his media presence and loyalty to the incoming president. While Hegseth served honorably in the military, his lack of defense policy experience and large organization leadership are disqualifying. The Secretary of Defense must have deep experience, sound judgment and an unwavering commitment to nonpartisan governance.
Furthermore, Hegseth’s attraction to white Christian nationalism and his history of misogynistic comments undermine the impartiality and objectivity required for the role. His defense of war criminals should give us all pause. His demeaning comments that women are not fit for combat ignore battle-tested American warriors who served with distinction in Afghanistan and Iraq, like Silver Star awardees SGT Leigh Ann Hester and PFC Monica Brown. It ignores the Ukrainian women who fight valiantly against superior Russian forces. And it ignores the Israeli Defense Forces where 34% of those serving are female. Is misogyny in the military now the order of the day?
The Constitution is the bedrock of our Republic. It is incumbent upon our elected officials to uphold their duty to it above all else. As Army officers, our oath was to, “support and defend the Constitution”, not the president, or the secretary of defense, or a religion. In this context, the Senate’s role in providing advice and consent on presidential appointments is not merely a procedural formality but a fundamental obligation. This duty requires that Senators hold thorough hearings and cast votes on President Trump’s cabinet nominees. To do otherwise is an abdication of their constitutional responsibilities, which undermines our uniquely American balance of powers.
Sens. Risch and Crapo owe it to Idahoans and the nation to conduct a thorough vetting of Hegseth and all cabinet nominees. At the end of the day, Hegseth should be rejected. This is not about obstructing the President but about ensuring the individuals entrusted with the highest responsibilities are prepared to serve the country’s best interests. Our Founding Fathers assigned this responsibility to the Senate, and it has worked for over 200 years.