Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) sharply criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on CBS’s “Face the Nation” Sunday, accusing him of “creating chaos” at the Pentagon. Her comments come amidst reports of significant staffing shakeups and concerns over the sharing of sensitive information via Signal group chats.
“The fact is, Pete Hegseth was not qualified to take the job as Secretary of Defense, and he has shown that time and again,” Shaheen told host Margaret Brennan.
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She highlighted the recent reports detailing the sharing of information regarding airstrikes in Yemen with individuals lacking the necessary security clearances, including his wife, brother, and lawyer.
Shaheen expressed deep concern over the current state of the Pentagon’s leadership, noting the recent departures of key personnel.
“It concerns me greatly that he has created chaos in the Pentagon,” Shaheen said. “He showed it with his sharing classified information on a Signal chat… inappropriate to source with people who do not have the credentials to hear that information. He has created chaos that is now embroiling our uniform military in the chaos that he’s creating at the Pentagon without having the appropriate people to run things.”
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The Senator also emphasized the impact of Hegseth’s actions on the military’s operational efficiency. “He’s not taking responsibility for his actions, and for those people who serve under him, he has shown that he is not the kind of leader we need at this time,” she stated.
Shaheen also discussed the ongoing investigation into the sharing of potentially classified information. “I don’t [know when we’ll get a clear answer], and I think it’s important that that’s a bipartisan request to have that investigation done to see what was appropriate, and hopefully they will come out soon with recommendations.”
Beyond the immediate staffing and information security concerns, Shaheen raised the issue of tariffs and their impact on the defense supply chain.
“One of the things the concerns that I raised with the Secretary of Defense was what the tariffs are doing to the supply chain for our Department of Defense,” she explained, citing examples of increased delays in acquiring essential materials like steel for aerospace components.
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Shaheen’s comments add to the growing scrutiny surrounding Hegseth’s leadership at the Pentagon, with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle calling for greater oversight and accountability. The Pentagon’s Inspector General is currently investigating the information leaks.
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