Hegseth’s Reckless Leadership Endangers All Americans
With global threats proliferating, the world’s most lethal military can’t afford to be distracted by security breaches and culture wars.
Americans deserve better.
Photographer: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Americans have varying appetite for the White House’s chaotic, often careless style of governance. When it comes to leading the world’s most lethal military, however, all citizens deserve better — and national security requires it.
Even supporters would be hard-pressed to describe Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s tenure at the Pentagon as a model of efficient management. Several top aides have been marched out of the building in recent days, dismissed for alleged leaks; another quit, describing a civilian leadership in “full-blown meltdown.” Hegseth has raised eyebrows by including his wife in sensitive meetings with foreign counterparts and reportedly inviting Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk for a briefing on US plans for war with China.