Pete Hegseth's leadership as Secretary of Defense has significantly harmed the national security of the United States.

“The secretary of defense is a clear and present danger to the national security of the United States and the world,” said Randy Manner, a retired major general in the US national guard. “He has done more harm to the national security of the United States than any secretary of defense since the country was created.” Captain calamity: Pete Hegseth under fire for ‘inept’ leadership of US military | Pete Hegseth | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/05/pete-hegseth-pentagon-military

'“The secretary of defense is a clear and present danger to the national security of the United States and the world,” said Randy Manner, a retired major general in the US national guard – in which Hegseth also served – and member of National Security Leaders for America (NSL4A), a group of former military leaders. “He has done more harm to the national security of the United States than any secretary of defense since the country was created.”' https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/05/pete-hegseth-pentagon-military