What's behind defense secretary pick Hegseth's war on 'woke'

(NPR) President-elect Donald Trump's choice of Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host and former National Guard soldier, for secretary of defense is being met with disbelief and outrage among some members of Congress and former military officers.

If confirmed, he would be the least experienced defense secretary in the history of the republic, going back to Henry Knox, the first secretary of war who was a key officer in Washington's army. Those who rise to that post often come from Capitol Hill, industry or the highest ranks of the officer corps.

He served in Iraq and Afghanistan and left the Army National Guard as a major in 2021. Beyond his inexperience, Trump's selection of Hegseth has also renewed scrutiny of his political and religious views, his advocacy for soldiers accused of war crimes, and his aggressive criticism of the military he would be leading. Many people with experience in defense and foreign policy fear that, if confirmed, Hegseth would politicize the officer corps.

Reaction to the news was swift and cutting. One former senior military official who wished to remain anonymous to speak freely about the subject said that the only qualifying quality for Hegseth seemed to be loyalty to Trump, and that the pick was embarrassing, although the language used was more colorful. Another official on the Hill, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said he had to Google Hegseth's name.

https://www.npr.org/2024/11/14/nx-s1-5191941/pete-hegseth-defense-department-dei