At Tuesday’s Senate confirmation hearing, Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth drew laughter as he rebutted a question from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.
Mr. Hegseth has publicly expressed his belief that military generals should be prohibited from working in the defense industry for 10 years after they retire, and that senators should be prohibited from working in the defense industry for 10 years after leaving office. I’m asking if you’re going to be held to the same standards. . When Warren pressed him on the topic, Hegseth concluded his response with a quip about his military record.
“But my question to you is, would you agree that if you put up the money and quit this job, you wouldn’t work in the defense industry for 10 years?” Warren asked.
“Senator, that’s a question I never thought of,” Hegseth said. “My motivation for this work was never about what happens next, because it’s not one thing.”
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The Massachusetts senator interrupted Hegseth and accused him of not living up to his standards. (Related: Kirsten Gillibrand breaks down her 8-minute lecture on women in the military to Pete Hegseth)
“In other words, you’re convinced that every general who serves in the military should not work directly in the defense industry for 10 years, so you’re not willing to take the same pledge?” Warren asked.
“Senator, I’m not a general,” Hegseth replied, drawing laughter from those in attendance.
Hegseth faced hostile questions from Democratic senators, particularly about his views on women in combat and his opposition to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. defensive candidate said In a Nov. 7 podcast interview, he said that allowing women to serve in combat roles does not make the military more effective or lethal. claimed In his book War with Warriors, he states that combat and infantry roles are not for women because women are “physically unable to meet the same standards as men.”
army lowered Physical fitness testing standards for women and older soldiers were changed after a study found that young men passed six physical fitness tests at significantly higher rates than women and older soldiers.
The candidate then clarified to SiriusXM’s Megyn Kelly in December that women could serve in combat roles if they met “appropriate criteria.”
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