WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement in response to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s latest ouster of top military leadership.
“Secretary Hegseth’s latest baseless firings, this time of Army Chief of Staff General Randy George and other senior military officers, weaken our national security and national defense at a time when we can least afford it.
“Purging military leadership as our country faces grave challenges and threats from around the world is cause for serious alarm. Continuing to do so as we are sending thousands of service members to the Middle East to fight an ill-defined war of choice against Iran is reckless in the extreme. Doing this because these individuals haven’t demonstrated the same ideological view or personal loyalty presents a profound threat to our national security and national defense and raises serious questions about Secretary Hegseth’s ability to manage the Department of Defense.
“Since taking charge of the Department of Defense, we have seen Secretary Hegseth oust numerous decorated, knowledgeable, and well-respected U.S. military leaders and remove individuals from promotion lists in his ongoing culture war. He continues to target others in the department who appear to pose a challenge to him personally or don’t fit his world view rather than letting merit and competence determine promotions and senior assignments. All of this is creating further chaos and havoc that threatens the stability of our armed forces, does a profound disservice to the men and women who serve our country, and erodes the non-partisan role of the military as well as the good order and discipline among the force.”
“Secretary Hegseth’s latest baseless firings, this time of Army Chief of Staff General Randy George and other senior military officers, weaken our national security and national defense at a time when we can least afford it.
“Purging military leadership as our country faces grave challenges and threats from around the world is cause for serious alarm. Continuing to do so as we are sending thousands of service members to the Middle East to fight an ill-defined war of choice against Iran is reckless in the extreme. Doing this because these individuals haven’t demonstrated the same ideological view or personal loyalty presents a profound threat to our national security and national defense and raises serious questions about Secretary Hegseth’s ability to manage the Department of Defense.
“Since taking charge of the Department of Defense, we have seen Secretary Hegseth oust numerous decorated, knowledgeable, and well-respected U.S. military leaders and remove individuals from promotion lists in his ongoing culture war. He continues to target others in the department who appear to pose a challenge to him personally or don’t fit his world view rather than letting merit and competence determine promotions and senior assignments. All of this is creating further chaos and havoc that threatens the stability of our armed forces, does a profound disservice to the men and women who serve our country, and erodes the non-partisan role of the military as well as the good order and discipline among the force.”
###