Pentagon defends Hegseth’s record as Massie forces an impeachment vote
Pentagon Press Secretary, U.S. Department of War
“Secretary Hegseth has been a transformative leader for the Department of War. Standards and merit are back, our arsenal is stronger than ever before, and morale and recruitment across every service are at all-time highs. Secretary Hegseth has slashed bureaucracy, unleashed innovation, and delivered for our warfighters every step of the way. By every measurable metric, the Department of War is better under President Trump and Secretary Hegseth’s leadership than before. The entire Department is unified behind the Secretary’s vision and will continue working to put our warfighters and America first.”
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
The Daily Caller News Foundation attributes an emailed statement to Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson in response to Massie reading the impeachment articles. NPR, Reuters and The Hill carried the same statement in substantially the same wording. This is reported attribution rather than a Department of War release.
Before the quotation
Massie read eight articles of impeachment on the House floor. Reporters asked the department to respond.
After the quotation
The statement does not address any specific article in the resolution. NPR, Reuters and The Hill carried the same statement in substantially the same wording.
How this statement is classified
Case context: Should Pete Hegseth be impeached?
The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.
Why this label?
Relative to whether the House should impeach Hegseth under the congressional proposals, Wilson answers the impeachment push by asserting that Hegseth’s leadership has succeeded by every measure and that the department stands behind him. Presenting the record as a success in direct reply to the resolution argues against removal, which is what distinguishes this from routine departmental praise.
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Should Pete Hegseth be impeached?
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Read the full caseFree Speech For People
“In supporting Trump’s constitutional violations and actively participating in, or even initiating, the actions noted above, Hegseth has failed to faithfully discharge the duties of his office. Further, Hegseth participated in multiple unauthorized, unsecured communications on Signal with individuals who are not government employees, jeopardizing national security and demonstrating a dangerous lack of judgment. He must be held accountable for his actions.”Read statement
MoveOn
“Hegseth has shown he cannot be trusted with the power of this office and this position. Impeachment and aggressive oversight are necessary steps to stop further abuses.”Read statement
Win Without War
“Hegseth is making people less safe — and it’s time for him to go.”Read statement