Hegseth: Trump will make big changes to military operations, recruitment

By Thérèse Boudreaux
The Center Square

Under a second Trump administration, the Department of Defense will enhance the military’s lethality, root out social justice initiatives, boost recruitment, and ensure a fiscally responsible use of taxpayer funds, Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth promised Tuesday.

During a four-hour confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Hegseth outlined President-elect Donald Trump’s vision of an apolitical, merit-based military focused on lethality and deterrence instead of racial quotas or climate change.

“We can no longer count on reputational deterrence, we need real deterrence,” Hegseth told the committee in his opening statement. “And in pursuing these America First national security goals, we’ll remain patriotically apolitical and stridently constitutional, unlike the current administration.”

Hegseth emphasized the importance of boosting investments in the defense infrastructure and nuclear initiatives, as well as encouraging technological innovation. At the same time, he said fiscal responsibility is a “strategic prerogative,” given that the Pentagon has never passed a single audit.

“An audit is an issue of national security, and frankly, respect to American taxpayers, who give $850 billion over to the Defense department and expect that we know where that money goes,” Hegseth said. “And if that money is going somewhere that doesn’t add to tooth, and instead goes to fat or tail, we need to know that or if it’s wasted, we need to know that.”

Successful warfighting and deterrence also requires “removing anything that doesn’t contribute to meritocracy” from leadership and recruitment decisions, such as lowering physical fitness standards for women.

“Whether it’s a man or a woman, they have to meet the same high standards,” Hegseth said. “It’s not that it has to be the same standard throughout [all military positions], it’s standards to maximize efficacy of that particular position.”

Hegseth took the same merit-based view on promotions and leadership, pledging to cut Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion quotas at all levels of the military.

“What gender you are, what race you are, your views on climate change, whether you’re a person of conscience, and your faith, should have no bearing on whether you get promoted,” he said. “The only thing that should matter is, how capable are you at your job? How excellent are you at your job?”

These changes, he promised, will boost morale and lead to a “recruiting renaissance” under the Trump administration, reversing the years-long decline. 

Hegseth reiterated Trump's promise to reinstate – with rank and back pay – the 8,000 military members who were wrongfully discharged for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

If the committee confirms Hegseth as Defense secretary,  he will oversee an $850 billion budget and roughly 3 million personnel.