‘Status Quo Hasn’t Worked’ [WATCH]

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth addressed major changes within the Pentagon during an appearance on Fox News Sunday, outlining the Trump administration’s push to restructure military leadership and eliminate wasteful spending.

Speaking with host Shannon Bream, Hegseth dismissed reports of a “purge” and emphasized that the focus remains on accountability, constitutional leadership, and restoring military readiness.

Since returning to office, President Donald Trump has moved quickly to implement spending cuts across various federal agencies, including the Department of Defense (DOD). Hegseth defended these efforts, citing past mismanagement and a need for new leadership.

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“There’s no list, Shannon. I’ve heard that. I’ve seen that very rumor,” Hegseth said when asked about reports that he had compiled a list of defense personnel targeted for dismissal.

“Although, we have a very keen eye toward military leadership and their willingness to follow lawful orders. This is all about defending the Constitution.”

He pointed out that under the Biden-Harris administration, the military had been weakened by ideological mandates, including controversial diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and COVID-19 policies.

“It’s unfortunate how they eroded our military—ideological, COVID mandates,” Hegseth said.

“President Trump has given another set of lawful orders and they will be followed. If they’re not followed, then those officers will find the door. That’s not a tough calculation.”

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Trump’s administration has prioritized cutting unnecessary expenditures within the DOD, particularly in areas where spending was not properly accounted for.

In April 2024, the Pentagon, under the Biden-Harris administration, failed to provide Congress with a report detailing military spending on DEI programs, salaries for DEI administrators, and the impact of these initiatives on recruiting and retention.

By July 2024, Open The Books revealed to the Daily Caller News Foundation that Pentagon school teachers had been involved in promoting DEI-related material aimed at social justice activism.

Hegseth made it clear that under the Trump administration, the military would refocus on its core mission.

“We’re going to focus on war fighting and lethality and accountability and be the most transparent Pentagon that folks have seen in a long time,” he said.

One of Hegseth’s first actions as Defense Secretary was halting all military-funded sex-change procedures, enforcing Trump’s executive order barring service members from identifying as a gender different from their biological sex.

Hegseth responded to concerns over Trump’s restructuring of military legal leadership, which has drawn criticism from some in academia.

Georgetown law professor Mary McCord recently claimed that Trump’s decision to replace Judge Advocate Generals (JAGs) in the Army, Navy, and Air Force was a sign of impending legal violations.

Hegseth pushed back against this characterization. “Ultimately, we want lawyers who give sound constitutional advice and don’t exist to attempt to be roadblocks to anything that happens in their spots,” he said.

“Small group of insulated officers who perpetuate the status quo. Well, guess what? Status quo hasn’t worked very well at the Pentagon. It’s time for fresh blood.”

He explained that the administration is shifting to a more merit-based selection process for key legal positions.

“We’re going to open up those positions to a broader set and a merit-based process to find the best lawyers possible to lead the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy. There’s nothing about purging. There’s nothing about illegal,” Hegseth said.

On Friday, Trump announced the removal of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Brown in a Truth Social post.

While acknowledging Brown’s service, Trump revealed that he would be nominating Air Force Lieutenant General Dan “Razin” Caine as his replacement.

Hegseth also revealed additional planned reductions in military leadership ranks, citing a bloated command structure.

“One thing people haven’t noted yet, which I’ll share, is we’re going to take those are three-star billets. But traditionally, they’ve been two-star billets, over time,” Hegseth said.

“There’s been lots of inflation in the ranks over time. We’re going to return those billets to two-star billets. We’re going to shrink the size of our headquarters units, the inflation of military generals.”

He emphasized the need for a more efficient chain of command. “We won World War II with seven four-star generals, Shannon. We have 44 today. Has it created better outcomes or not?”

Hegseth concluded by reaffirming the Pentagon’s commitment to restructuring in a way that maximizes resources for the warfighter.

“We’re challenging a lot of assumptions at the Pentagon to streamline what we do so that we get as many resources as possible to the warfighter,” he said.

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