Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Arrives at Pentagon, Pledges to Protect US Sovereign Territory
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth started his first day at the Pentagon, Monday, emphasizing the Department of Defense’s (DOD) mission to protect the country. He was greeted by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. and a group of reporters.
Hegseth stated, “It is an honor to serve on behalf of the president and serve on behalf of the country,” and added, “The warfighters are ready to go.” He also acknowledged President Donald Trump’s executive orders declaring an emergency at the southern border and designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Hegseth noted that the DOD “snapped to” in sending more troops to aid in erecting barriers along the border and ensuring mass deportations, stating, “That is something the Defense Department absolutely will continue to do.”
Hegseth emphasized that the protection of the sovereign territory of the United States is the job of the Defense Department, and that he will take all necessary measures to ensure this, including deploying troops, National Guard, and reserves.
In a shift from the past, Hegseth announced that the DOD will reorient its approach to supporting border security, saying, “Whatever is needed at the border will be provided. Whether that is through state active duty, Title 32 or Title 10, because we are reorienting.”
He also expressed plans to comply with Trump’s directives, including removing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs from the Pentagon, reinstating troops who were “pushed out” over COVID-19 vaccine mandates, and implementing the construction of an “Iron Dome for America.”
Hegseth, a combat veteran, stated that he is thinking about the service members serving across the globe, saying, “Our job is lethality and readiness and warfighting.” He also vowed to execute the lawful orders of the President of the United States “swiftly and without excuse.”
