Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confronted intense scrutiny at a combative Home Armed Providers Committee listening to on Thursday, after showing to substantiate that the Pentagon has contingency plans to invade Greenland and Panama if obligatory. He additionally refused to offer direct solutions about his use of encrypted Sign chats to debate navy operations — a transfer that triggered bipartisan concern over potential breaches of protocol.“Our job on the Protection Division is to have plans for any contingency,” Hegseth mentioned in response to Rep. Adam Smith’s (D-Wash.) pointed query about whether or not the Pentagon had invasion plans for Greenland or Panama.Whereas it is normal for the Pentagon to organize contingency methods, Hegseth’s imprecise responses prompted a pointy rebuke from Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio): “I positive as hell hope that isn’t your testimony.”Hegseth tried to defuse the second by saying, “We stay up for working with Greenland to make sure that it’s secured from any potential threats.”The session grew heated as Hegseth evaded repeated questions on his alleged disclosure of operational particulars — together with strike occasions and munitions — throughout U.S. assaults on Houthi rebels in Yemen, shared by way of Sign with each navy officers and members of the family. Lawmakers pressed him on whether or not he had revealed categorized materials, however he averted instantly answering.“What’s not categorized is that it was an unimaginable, profitable mission,” Hegseth mentioned, sparking extra backlash.Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), a Marine veteran, challenged Hegseth on his accountability: “Would you maintain your self accountable if the Inspector Basic finds that you just leaked categorized data?” Hegseth solely replied that he serves “on the pleasure of the president.”In one of the charged moments of the listening to, Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.) advised Hegseth, “You’re a humiliation to this nation. You’re unfit to guide. You must simply get the hell out.”Republican lawmakers defended Hegseth, criticising what they referred to as “flagrant disrespect,” whereas Hegseth responded, “I’m joyful to take the arrows” in pursuit of what he referred to as tough selections.Lawmakers additionally questioned the politicisation of the navy following a current campaign-style speech by former President Donald Trump at Fort Bragg, the place uniformed troops had been seen cheering and booing political opponents, with MAGA merchandise bought close by. Gen. Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Employees, advised the committee he was unaware of any violations, reaffirming that service members should stay apolitical.Hegseth was additional grilled on his stance relating to girls and transgender troops. He defended slicing range packages and asserted he desires the “most succesful troops,” however averted clear solutions on gender equality in fight roles. “It depends upon the context,” he mentioned, arguing that girls “carry a rucksack in another way.”
