Hegseth’s Dangerous Views and Troubled Past Make Him Unfit to Serve as Secretary of Defense
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 14, 2025
Brian Purchia, brian@protectourdefenders.com
***STATEMENT***
Hegseth’s Dangerous Views and Troubled Past Make Him Unfit to Serve as Secretary of Defense
Hegseth has expressed that women should not serve especially in combat roles, raising serious concerns about eroding progress in attracting top talent to the armed forces
Washington, DC – Protect Our Defenders (POD) – the pre-eminent national human rights organization dedicated to ending sexual violence in the military – is calling on the Senate to reject the nomination of President-elect Trump’s choice for Secretary of Defense, Army veteran and radical commentator Pete Hegseth, citing concerns around his fitness for the role. Congressional hearings began today, Tuesday, January 14.
Hegseth’s troubling record includes serious sexual assault allegations in 2017 that reportedly led to a private settlement. Allowing someone with such a history to set military policy would erode trust and weaken accountability, further threatening cohesion and morale within the armed forces. Hegseth has also openly opposed the military’s anti-extremism initiatives and expressed beliefs that women should not serve in the military, especially in combat roles. These views not only disrespect women but also undermine recruitment efforts, especially as the Army’s 2024 success—driven by a surge of female enlistments—stands out after all branches fell short of their goals in 2023.
Rolling back opportunities for women and diversity initiatives shrinks the talent pool essential for mission readiness. The military’s recruitment crisis is not just about filling ranks; it is about fostering a culture that attracts, values, and retains the best talent our nation has to offer. Hegseth’s rhetoric jeopardizes these goals, putting our national security at risk.
His nomination also raises significant concerns about his ability to lead in an institution already grappling with systemic issues of sexual violence, including one of the largest military sexual assault scandals in recent history, involving more than 100 victims accusing Maj. Michael Stockin, an Army doctor, of sexual assault.
The National Task Force to End Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence has also called for Congress to reject Hegseth’s nomination. Hegseth’s views represent a step backward for an institution that relies on fairness, and accountability to maintain morale and cohesion.
Protect Our Defenders Founder and CEO, Nancy Parrish, released the following statement:
“Sexual assault in the military is not a gender issue, nor is it confined to those serving in combat roles. It is a systemic failure of leadership and institutional accountability that demands immediate and transformative reform.
“Hegseth’s assertion, which he is now attempting to distance himself from, that women should not serve, stating ‘we need moms, but not in the military and, especially in combat units’ is offensive. Using the military’s sexual assault crisis as justification, demonstrates a profound ignorance of the issue. This view not only disrespects women but also fails to recognize the reality: sexual violence in the military affects all genders and cannot be dismissed as a combat-specific or gendered problem. Blaming the presence of women for these failures shifts accountability away from perpetrators and leaders, enforcing a culture of silence and injustice. And it demeans the thousands of male victims who report each year and the countless ones who fear coming forward.
“Even more damning, Hegseth’s own mother has publicly called him an ‘abuser of women.’ For the sake of our military’s integrity, our national security, unit cohesion and the safety of our service members, his nomination must be unequivocally rejected.”
Protect Our Defenders Senior Vice President, Josh Connolly, former Chief of Staff for Rep. Jackie Speier (former Chairwoman of the Military Personnel Subcommittee on the House Armed Services Committee), released the following statement:
“The military is grappling with a critical recruitment and retention crisis – one that goes beyond just filling ranks. It’s about fostering a culture that attracts, values, and retains the best talent our nation has to offer.
“To meet mission requirements and maintain our position as the world’s premier fighting force, we need leadership that champions inclusivity, respect, and a healthy command climate. Pete Hegseth’s outdated views and his opposition to diversity initiatives, disqualify him from leading this charge.
“The Secretary of Defense must lead by example, setting a tone of respect, accountability, and trust across all levels of command. Hegseth’s record, marked by divisive rhetoric and disregard for critical reforms, threatens the cohesion and readiness of our military.
“Congress must reject his nomination to safeguard the values, integrity, and strength of our armed forces.”
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About Protect Our Defenders: Protect Our Defenders is the pre-eminent national human rights organization dedicated to ending sexual violence, victim retaliation, misogyny, sexual prejudice, and racism in the military and combating a culture that has allowed it to persist. We seek to honor, support and give voice to the brave women and men in uniform who have been sexually assaulted while serving their country, and re-victimized by the military adjudication system – a system that often blames the victim and fails to prosecute the perpetrator. Learn more about Protect Our Defenders at www.protectourdefenders.com or on Facebook at http://facebook.com/ProtectOurDefenders or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ProtectRDfnders.
