Pete Hegseth stories

Sep 29, 2026

Pete Hegseth announces new drone command, base competition and military cuts in Pentagon speech

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth unveiled six major military initiatives in his 'State of the Force' address to troops at Quantico, including establishing a new autonomous weapons command, soliciting bids for a modern military base, cutting 20% of generals and admirals, and announcing Elon Musk will help develop next-generation weapons. The speech also emphasized cultural changes and increased focus on religion in the military.

Sep 29, 20268 sources

Sep 15, 2026

Rep. Thomas Massie files articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over Iran war

Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky filed eight articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday, accusing him of violating the War Powers Resolution and launching military actions against Iran without congressional approval.

Sep 15, 20264 sources

Sep 8, 2026

Trump and Hegseth defend Iran war during 9/11 anniversary ceremony at Pentagon

President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used the 25th anniversary memorial ceremony of the September 11 attacks at the Pentagon to defend the ongoing U.S. military conflict with Iran, framing it as a continuation of the war on terror and citing Iran as the "number one sponsor of terror."

Sep 8, 20269 sources

Sep 3, 2026

Trump names Adam Telle as acting Army secretary following Driscoll departure

President Trump appointed Adam Telle, currently assistant secretary of the Army for civil works, as acting Army secretary after Dan Driscoll's resignation following reported tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Sep 3, 20266 sources

Pentagon temporarily rescinds mandatory testosterone screening guidance for troops

The Pentagon has temporarily rescinded recently published clinical guidance that would have required mandatory testosterone deficiency screening for male service members aged 30 and older. The policy was announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the summer but the guidance issued Wednesday was quickly pulled back.

Sep 3, 20264 sources

Australia and US to boost defence ties as China expands Pacific influence

Australia and the United States announced plans to strengthen their defence partnership, potentially expanding US military presence in Australia to enhance deterrence across the Pacific region. The move comes as China continues to increase its influence in the area, with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth meeting Australian counterparts in Washington.

Sep 3, 20264 sources

Aug 28, 2026

Pete Hegseth blocks Army officer promotions and considers second Quantico gathering amid leadership purge

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has blocked promotions of four Army officers to one-star rank, some with ties to generals he previously ousted, while reportedly considering summoning hundreds of senior military leaders to Quantico for a second time this year. The actions come amid ongoing turmoil that has created a leadership vacuum in the Army.

Aug 28, 20264 sources

Aug 19, 2026

U.S. Army to disband drone battalion created to study Ukraine war lessons

The U.S. Army plans to phase out its Unmanned Assault Battalion, a specialized infantry unit established to study and incorporate lessons from drone warfare in conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war. The decision comes as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's Army leadership pick makes organizational changes.

Aug 19, 20264 sources

Aug 18, 2026

Sen. Elissa Slotkin presses Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on keeping military away from polling places

Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan has formally requested that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and another official commit to not deploying U.S. troops to polling places during the upcoming midterm elections.

Aug 18, 20263 sources

Aug 11, 2026

Pentagon reports 153 civilian deaths from U.S. military operations in 2025

The Pentagon acknowledged that U.S. military operations killed more than 150 civilians in 2025, with particular focus on casualties from Trump administration's Yemen campaign following Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's dismantling of an office focused on mitigating unintended casualties.

Aug 11, 20262 sources

Aug 10, 2026

Pentagon Renames Joint Base Charleston After Late Sen. Lindsey Graham as Hegseth Pushes $1.5 Trillion Defense Budget

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth renamed Joint Base Charleston in South Carolina as Joint Base Lindsey Graham during a Monday ceremony honoring the late senator, who died suddenly last month. Hegseth used the event to urge Congress to approve a record $1.5 trillion FY2027 Pentagon budget, invoking Graham's legacy as a defense hawk despite facing Republican resistance to the proposal.

Aug 10, 20269 sources

Jul 13, 2026

Pentagon and Justice Department Create Joint Task Force to Prosecute Media Leaks

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the creation of a joint task force between the Department of Defense and the Department of Justice to identify and prosecute individuals who make unauthorized disclosures of sensitive information to news media. The announcement comes days after DOJ issued subpoenas to several New York Times reporters to appear before a grand jury.

Jul 13, 20266 sources

Jun 18, 2026

U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth Announces Review of American Forces in Europe, Proposes 'NATO 3.0' Restructuring

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized NATO allies in Brussels and announced a review of U.S. military forces stationed in Europe while calling for a fundamental reorganization of the alliance into what he termed 'NATO 3.0.'

Jun 18, 20261 source

Jun 6, 2026

Defense Secretary Hegseth Criticizes Europe Over Migration in D-Day Anniversary Speech

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used a D-Day commemoration speech in Normandy, France to attack European nations for allowing an 'invasion' of migrants, drawing criticism for politicizing the solemn anniversary.

Jun 6, 20262 sources

US Defense Secretary Hegseth Draws Controversy With Immigration Remarks at D-Day Anniversary in France

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used a D-Day anniversary ceremony in France on Saturday to criticize European immigration policies, claiming Europe is being 'invaded' by migrants and drawing comparisons between wartime beach landings and contemporary immigration by sea.

Jun 6, 20264 sources

May 30, 2026

US Defense Secretary Hegseth signals shift in Asia policy at Singapore summit as China skips dialogue

At the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized stable US-China relations while declaring an end to subsidizing allied defense, notably avoiding discussion of Taiwan and Iran. China's absence from the summit drew criticism from Germany's defense chief, while Indo-Pacific nations responded by deepening regional defense partnerships independent of US leadership.

May 30, 20264 sources