Durbin Speaks Out Against Unqualified Nominee For Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth
In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin explains his rationale for opposing Hegseth's nomination
WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke out against Pete Hegseth’s nomination to serve as the Secretary of Defense. Durbin explained his objections to Hegseth’s nomination, including his inability to articulate a defense strategy in addressing threats to the U.S., his disparaging comments about women serving in the military, and troubling reports of financial mismanagement, alcohol abuse, and sexual misconduct.
“Over the last three decades alone, every single Senate-confirmed Secretary of Defense but one has received broad bipartisan support,” Durbin began his remarks. “I’d like to take a moment to share my reservations on the nomination of Pete Hegseth to serve as our next Secretary of Defense.”
“From the outset, Mr. Hegseth has failed to position himself as someone with a strategic plan to address the threats to our nation, to equip our warfighters with the technologies of the future, or support them and their families with the benefits they’ve earned and deserve,” Durbin said. “Aside from serving in the National Guard for some years, Mr. Hegseth lacks the necessary qualifications to lead the Department of Defense.”
As Durbin noted, Hegseth has never held a leadership position that would qualify him to lead a federal government agency such as the Department of Defense, with 3.5 million service members and civilian employees, and a $900 billion budget.
“He has over the years – and even during his confirmation hearing – disparaged our dedicated women service members and questioned their right to adequate health care,” Durbin said.
Hegseth has repeatedly, falsely stated that the military has lowered standards to accommodate women serving in combat in interviews. He has reiterated his belief that women should not serve in combat in his book, The War on Warriors.
“He advocated for pardons for war criminals and questioned the rules of engagement that are designed to protect civilians from harm. And he exhibited a stunning lack of basic knowledge on the threats our country faces,” Durbin continued.
In 2019, Hegseth publicly advocated for the pardons of two service members, Army Lieutenant Clint Lorance and Army Major Mathew Golsteyn, who were convicted of and charged with respectively, committing war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hegseth also pushed for public support for Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher, who was charged with several war crimes, including shooting civilians in Iraq, and was eventually convicted by a military jury for posing for photographs with the body of a teenage Islamic State prisoner. During his first administration, Trump pardoned Lorance and Golsteyn and reinstated Gallagher’s rank.
In his nomination hearing held by the Senate Armed Services Committee last week, Hegseth failed to answer a basic question from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) about the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United States’ relationship with the bloc.
“This is to say nothing of the numerous troubling personal allegations against him related to the use of alcohol, personal misconduct, financial mismanagement, and more—all of which raises questions about his fitness and vulnerability to serve in this high position,” Durbin said.
Earlier this week, Hegseth’s former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, provided a sworn affidavit to the Senate with detailed allegations that Hegseth had abused his second wife, Samantha Hegseth. Danielle Hegseth’s affidavit also included an instance of Hegseth drinking to excess while in military uniform. Similarly, in her FBI interview, Samantha Hegseth stated that Hegseth has previously and continues to abuse alcohol.
Durbin also expressed his frustration that Hegseth neglected to meet with the Democratic members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, aside from Ranking Member U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI).
“This is an unusual situation. I would say the Armed Services Committee and the Department of Defense are two of the most bipartisan efforts I’ve seen in my time in Washington. It is customary to have both political parties in lockstep together, working for the defense of this nation, as they should,” Durbin said.
“But for some reason, Mr. Hegseth has decided that he would break with tradition and not meet with the Democratic members of the Armed Services Committee, aside from the Ranking Member, Jack Reed of the State of Rhode Island. That is unfortunate. The bipartisanship should be honored, even if it is difficult and challenging,” Durbin said.
“It is for these reasons that every Democrat of the Senate Armed Services Committee voted against advancing his nomination. And I will oppose him on the floor,” Durbin concluded his remarks.
Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.
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