Democratic Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth screamed at President-elect Donald Trump’s Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth on Tuesday at his confirmation hearing as he attempted to answer her query about his budgeting experience.
Hegseth, a former “Fox and Friends” weekend co-host and National Guard veteran with multiple combat deployments, served as CEO of Concerned Veterans for America. Duckworth suggested Hegseth’s experience makes him unqualified to lead the Department of Defense (DOD), particularly on matters of financial accountability. (RELATED: Scott Jennings Reminds CNN Panel America ‘Just Voted Against The Expected Washington Pick’ While Defending Hegseth)
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“Please describe to me, Mr. Hegseth, you talk about DOD passing an audit. Please describe to me a time or an organization that you led underwent an audit. Because you say going to hire smarter people than you to run this audit. I’m not asking you to be an accountant,” Duckworth said. “I want you to be able to tell me what kind of guidance will be given to those employees, what will happen if, whether or not you pass that audit. Have you led an audit of any organization, yes or no? I don’t want a long answer. Yes or no, have you led an audit of any organization of which you were in charge?”
“Senator, in both of the organizations I ran, we were always completely fiscally responsible with the money that we had,” Hegseth responded.
Hegseth added that his organizational leadership has been “completely mischaracterized,” but Duckworth shouted over him as he spoke.
“Yes or no, did you lead an audit? Yes or no, did you lead an audit? Yes or no? What are you afraid of?” she asked. “You can’t answer this question? Yes or no, did you lead an audit? Do you not know this answer?”
As Hegseth continued to attempt to answer, she said she viewed his response “as a no.”
“Nobody expects you to be an accountant, Mr. Hegseth. What we expect is for you to understand the complexity of this Pentagon budget process that is absolutely necessary to outfit our war fighters,” Duckworth added.
Trump selected Hegseth to be his defense secretary shortly after his election victory in November.
“Pete has spent his entire life as a Warrior for the Troops, and for the Country. Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First,” the president-elect posted on Truth Social. “With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice – Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Back Down.”
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