A high-ranking Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) official confirmed that the hotline between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and the Pentagon became inoperable during the Biden administration in March 2022.
On January 29, American Airlines Flight 5342, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas, with 60 passengers and four crew members on board, collided in midair near the airport with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter that had three people on board. Multiple American figure skaters and coaches returning from a training camp were on the flight. There were no survivors.
An internal preliminary report from the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/federal-aviation-administration-faa">FAA</a> said that staffing at the tower was &#8220;not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic,&#8221; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/01/29/us/plane-crash-washington-dc">according to The New York Times</a>. The newspaper said the controller who was dealing with helicopters around the airport was also instructing airplanes that were landing and departing, tasks which are typically assigned to multiple people.
On Wednesday, Texas GOP Senator Ted Cruz <a href="https://www.commerce.senate.gov/2025/5/faa-reauthorization-one-year-later-aviation-safety-air-traffic-and-next-generation-technology_2">questioned</a> Franklin McIntosh, the FAA Deputy COO of air traffic control, about proper procedures.
“On April 25 for the first time since the January 28 mid-air collision, the army resumed flying in the national capital region,” Cruz noted. “Less than a week later, air traffic control had to command two commercial aircraft on final approach to abort their landing at DCA due to an Army Blackhawk on an apparent training mission at the Pentagon, having wandered far too close to the commercial aircraft flightpath.”
“Shortly thereafter, and just 10 days after having resumed limited flight in the national capital region, the army aviation brigade, suspended operations in the DC area,” he continued. “I’ve been told that prior to the army aviation brigade’s decision to suspend operations on May 5, the FAA was preparing to suspend the letter of agreement between the army and the FAA that gives the army the ability to operate the DC air space without having to first ask for FAA clearance for each flight. Was the FAA prepared to suspend the letter of agreement, and if so, what was concerning enough to justify such a decision?”
“We were extremely troubled by the incident that occurred, especially in light of DCA and the events that led up to the accident,” McIntosh admitted. “We were ready to deploy any option available that we could use or that we felt was necessary to bring safety measures and better behaviors from the DOD in this instance. &#8230; We were ready to do any option available to include what you just spoke to, which was removing the ability to fly.”
“Just to be clear, does that mean the FAA did actually draft an order suspending the army’s ability to fly in the DC area?” Cruz asked.
“I’m not 100% aware if we drafted an order, but we did have a discussion if that was an option that we wanted to pursue,” McIntosh replied. “I do know that the DOD came back and suspended operations on their own based on that event so we’re still working with DOD to improve that process.”
“Is it true that the hotline, the direct line between the Pentagon air traffic control and the DCA tower, has been inoperable since March 2022?” Cruz asked. When McIntosh confirmed that the hotline indeed had been inoperable, Cruz continued, ‘Who maintains that hotline?”
“I believe the DOD maintains that hotline but I think the next question would be why were we not aware of it and insist upon it being fixed? “ McIntosh replied. “We take safety responsibilities extremely seriously in the FAA and those were the questions we were asking and we were not aware, but we became aware after that event and now that we became aware of that event we are were insisting upon that line to be fixed before we resume any operations out of the Pentagon.
“While army flights were ongoing, if the hotline was not operational, how did controllers communicate?” Cruz wanted to know.
“We still have landline abilities; we can make phone calls from the helipad to the operation where the supervisor or the controller in charge can answer so we’re aware of the activity and if there was a departure clearance needed, we’d be able to relay it via that mechanism,” McIntosh answered.
“Is it also true that the air traffic control positions for local traffic and helicopters were combined early just as they were on the day of the mid-air collision?” Cruz pressed.
“Yes sir, it was,” McIntosh confirmed.
Daniel Chaitin contributed to this article.

US-AVIATION-ACCIDENT

Hotline Between Reagan National Airport, DOD Became Inoperable During Biden Admin

Air and Space

Department of Defense

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Politics

Reagan national Airport

Ted Cruz

WASHINGTON—Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is taking further action to ensure that only the best and brightest applicants enter America&#8217;s military academies.
Beginning with the 2026 United States Military admissions cycle, the Defense Department will not apply race or sex-based preferences during review processes for applicants to the Military Services Academies, Hegseth announced in a memo exclusively obtained by The Daily Wire.
The move is part of the continued pushback from President Donald Trump&#8217;s administration to remove ideological principles from his agencies and to focus hiring and admissions on merit, rather than race or sex. This is particularly important in the United States military, Hegseth said in the memo, which was issued Friday, arguing that &#8220;only the most qualified candidates are admitted, trained, and ultimately&#8221; admitted to lead &#8220;the finest fighting force in history.&#8221;
&#8220;The Military Service Academies (MSA) are elite warfighting institutions with long histories of producing world class military officers,&#8221; the defense secretary said in the memo. &#8220;The Department owes it to our Nation, our Service members, and the young Americans applying to the MSAs to ensure admissions to these prestigious institutions are based exclusively on merit.&#8221;
&nbsp;
<div id="attachment_918347" style="width: 473px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/?attachment_id=918347" rel="attachment wp-att-918347"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-918347" class="wp-image-918347 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-09-at-2.20.45%E2%80%AFPM-463x576.png" alt="Memo exclusively obtained by The Daily Wire. " width="463" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-09-at-2.20.45%E2%80%AFPM-463x576.png 463w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-09-at-2.20.45%E2%80%AFPM-241x300.png 241w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-09-at-2.20.45%E2%80%AFPM-768x956.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-09-at-2.20.45%E2%80%AFPM.png 1070w" sizes="(max-width: 463px) 100vw, 463px" /></a>Memo exclusively obtained by The Daily Wire.</div>
&#8220;Selecting anyone but the best erodes lethality, our warfighting readiness, and undercuts the culture of excellence in our Armed Forces,&#8221; Hegseth said.
The memo directs secretaries of military departments to certify within 30 days that Military Service Academies&#8217; admissions offices will apply &#8220;no consideration of race, ethnicity, or sex&#8221; and will offer &#8220;admission based exclusively on merit.&#8221;
“Unlike the previous administration — whose policies put immutable characteristics before ability – Secretary Hegseth is requiring our Military Service Academies to base their admissions exclusively on merit, rewarding individual initiative, excellence, and hard work,&#8221; acting Defense Department Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson told The Daily Wire.
The Pentagon views the move as necessary to properly defend the United States. The Military Service Academies are a cornerstone in their efforts to produce world-class military officers. After the completion of the 2026 Military Service Academies admissions cycle, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness will certify that each of the MSAs are compliant with the new practices prioritizing merit, The Daily Wire has learned.
&#8220;The Department must remain steadfast in its pursuit of excellence and never compromise the high standards at our MSAs,&#8221; Hegseth concluded. &#8220;A strong officer corps is essential to ensuring the United States military remains the most lethal the world has ever known.&#8221;
The directive builds off Trump&#8217;s January executive order &#8220;Restoring America’s Fighting Force,&#8221; which states that &#8220;no individual or group within our Armed Forces should be preferred or disadvantaged on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, color, or creed.&#8221; Trump directed that all DEI offices within the Defense Department be abolished and banned the military from &#8220;promoting, advancing, or otherwise inculcating the following un-American, divisive, discriminatory, radical, extremist, and irrational theories.&#8221;

President Trump Delivers Speech In Michigan To Mark 100 Days Of His Presidency

EXCLUSIVE: Hegseth Makes Monumental Change To Admissions At Military Academies

Pentagon

Pete Hegseth

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth promised an overhaul of military physical fitness standards — and accountability to ensure that those standards are met — in an X post on Friday, declaring that on his watch, service members would be &#8220;FIT, not FAT!&#8221;
Hegseth was responding to a Military Times <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2025/04/24/more-than-two-thirds-of-reserve-troops-are-overweight-report/#:~:text=The%20Defense%20Department's%20latest%20data,figure%20is%20closer%20to%2068%25." target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> published Thursday revealing that the overwhelming majority — more than two-thirds — of reserve troops did not meet the prescribed weight standards.
&#8220;Completely unacceptable. This is what happens when standards are IGNORED — and this is what we are changing. REAL fitness &amp; weight standards are here. We will be FIT, not FAT,&#8221; Hegseth declared in an X post, noting that part of the problem was the fact that even the existing standards were not being enforced.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Completely unacceptable.
This is what happens when standards are IGNORED — and this is what we are changing. REAL fitness &amp; weight standards are here.
We will be FIT, not FAT. <a href="https://t.co/KWMlFbS1c8">pic.twitter.com/KWMlFbS1c8</a>
&mdash; Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth/status/1915725082820764054?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Citing a new study released earlier this week by the American Security Project (ASP), The Military Times reported that an estimated 68% of National Guard and reserve troops would be classified as either overweight or obese. The problem was slightly more pronounced among National Guard members, where some 21% of all personnel are estimated to be obese.
The ASP noted in the study that a large percentage of Active Duty service members are also considered to be overweight or obese. But because National Guard and reserve service members serve and train on a part time basis, enforcing physical fitness standards can be a much more complicated issue than when dealing with those serving in an active duty capacity — but the risks, in addition to the impacts on military readiness, remain high.
&#8220;These service members experience heightened risk for a wide variety of serious health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and osteoarthritis, which may lead to life-threatening health events such as stroke and heart failure,&#8221; the ASP report stated.
Hegseth has stated repeatedly that his main goal is to restore the United States military&#8217;s reputation as the most lethal fighting force on the planet, and as such, he plans to overhaul and enforce fitness standards that will bring about that end.

250130-D-PM193-1594_(54295724002) copy

‘FIT, Not FAT!’: Pete Hegseth Promises Standard Overhaul After ‘Unacceptable’ Troop Fitness Report

'FIT, Not FAT!': Pete Hegseth Promises Standard Overhaul After 'Unacceptable' Troop Fitness Report

Military

Trump Administration

In a <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/04/text-of-a-letter-from-the-president-to-the-speaker-of-the-house-of-representatives-and-the-president-pro-tempore-of-the-senate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> released on Tuesday to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate President Pro Tempore Charles Grassley (R-IA), President Donald Trump stated that he had directed the Department of Defense to deploy additional forces equipped for combat into the Middle East to counter Houthi attacks on American shipping.
In the letter, dated March 28, Trump noted that he was following his duty to keep Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution.
He started by pointing out that the Houthis in Yemen had “perpetrated piratical aggressions against shipping and have continued to threaten and attack United States forces in the airspace and waters in and around Yemen,” continuing, “I will no longer allow this band of pirates to threaten and attack United States forces and commercial vessels in one of the most important shipping lanes in the world.”
“Consistent with my commitment to defend United States forces and to uphold navigational rights and freedoms,” Trump wrote, he directed the Department of Defense to “move additional forces equipped for combat into the Middle East to enhance the defensive capabilities available to United States forces and facilitate necessary military actions. These forces include capabilities for air and missile defense of Israel and of locations hosting United States forces as well as fighter, support, and reconnaissance aircraft to enable strikes on Houthi targets.”
“Forces under United States Central Command have commenced large-scale strikes in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen to eliminate the capabilities the Houthis use for attacks on United States forces and commercial ships in the Red Sea and surrounding waters,” he acknowledged. “United States Navy ships and aircraft, along with United States Air Force bombers, fighters, and unmanned aircraft, operating in and around Yemen, have participated in these strikes. Targets have included Houthi leadership and equipment, command and control facilities, and munitions storage facilities. We will continue these decisive military operations until the Houthi threat to United States forces and navigational rights and freedoms in the Red Sea and adjacent waters has abated.”
“I directed these actions consistent with my responsibility to protect Americans and United States interests abroad and in furtherance of United States national security and foreign policy interests, pursuant to my constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive to conduct United States foreign relations. I appreciate the support of the Congress in this action,” he concluded.
In addition to their <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/houthi-terrorists-strike-u-s-cargo-ship-carrying-humanitarian-aid-to-yemen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">attacks on American-owned ships</a>, the Houthis have shot down a number of Reaper drones with surface-to-air missiles, some Russian-made. “The strikes against MQ-9 Reaper drones impair US intelligence and targeting systems and help the Houthis shore up domestic and regional support. And, with the Houthis’ ties to China, Russia, and Iran, downed MQ-9 Reaper drones could end up in the hands of U.S. adversaries,” the Atlantic Council <a href="https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/houthi-strikes-on-us-mq9-reaper-drones/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a>. “Tactically, the Houthi shootdowns of MQ-9 drones primarily aim to blind the US intelligence and targeting systems. &#8230; Russia has significantly deepened <a href="https://gulfif.org/russian-support-for-yemens-houthi-movement/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">political engagements</a> with the Houthis &#8230; Beijing seems to have intensified engagement with the Houthis since mid-November 2023.”

US-POLITICS-TRUMP-EASTER-EGG ROLL

Trump Orders Troops To Middle East To Counter Houthi Attacks

Donald Trump

Drones

Executive

Global Politics

Houthis

The Defense Department and the White House, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth himself, fired back over an anonymously-sourced New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/20/us/politics/hegseth-yemen-attack-second-signal-chat.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">piece</a> claiming that Hegseth had shared &#8220;highly sensitive military information&#8221; in a second Signal chat group that allegedly included his wife, his brother, and his attorney.
The story comes on the heels of a previous incident in which The Atlantic&#8217;s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly added to a different Signal chat group — and an attack on Houthi terrorists was described in some detail before Goldberg went public with both his presence in the group and the contents of the conversation. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz ultimately took responsibility for Goldberg&#8217;s accidental inclusion, which may have been linked to his iPhone&#8217;s algorithm that populates &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/so-damn-dangerous-signal-chat-breach-linked-to-automated-suggestion-feature-on-iphone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">automated contact suggestions</a>.&#8221;
The second chat group, according to the NYT, was nicknamed &#8220;Defense | Team Huddle&#8221; and was accessed via Hegseth&#8217;s personal phone rather than his government phone. Citing several anonymous sources, the NYT stated that the private Signal chat had included at least two of three DOD officials who were recently relieved of duty amid an investigation into &#8220;unauthorized disclosures&#8221; to media. The article offered no evidence suggesting that Hegseth had ever discussed anything of a sensitive nature in that group.
On Sunday, Defense Department spokesman Sean Parnell released a statement responding to the story:
<blockquote>Another day, another old story—back from the dead. The Trump-hating media continues to be obsessed with destroying anyone committed to President Trump’s agenda. This time, the New York Times — and all other Fake News that repeat their garbage — are enthusiastically taking the grievances of disgruntled former employees as the sole sources for their article. They relied only on the words of people who were fired this week and appear to have a motive to sabotage the Secretary and the President&#8217;s agenda. There was no classified information in any Signal chat, no matter how many ways they try to write the story. What is true is that the Office of the Secretary of Defense is continuing to become stronger and more efficient in executing President Trump&#8217;s agenda. We’ve already achieved so much for the American warfighter, and will never back down.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4/20/25
STATEMENT:
Another day, another old story—back from the dead. The Trump-hating media continues to be obsessed with destroying anyone committed to President Trump’s agenda. This time, the New York Times — and all other Fake News that repeat their…
&mdash; Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellATSD) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanParnellATSD/status/1914135704101175583?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Hegseth, who was present at Monday&#8217;s Easter Egg Roll at the White House, responded directly to the story as well:
<blockquote>What a big surprise that a bunch of leakers get fired and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out from the same media that peddled the Russia hoax.
This is what the media does. They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees, and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations. Not going to work with me.
We&#8217;re changing the Defense Department, putting the Pentagon back in the hands of warfighters — and anonymous smears from disgruntled former employees on old news doesn&#8217;t matter.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Pete Hegseth shuts down the fake news media:
&quot;What a big surprise that a bunch of leakers get fired and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out from the same media that peddled the Russia hoax.&quot;
&quot;This is what the media does. They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former… <a href="https://t.co/H4AmR88BJR">pic.twitter.com/H4AmR88BJR</a>
&mdash; Townhall.com (@townhallcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/townhallcom/status/1914322833506697713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also defended Hegseth during a Monday morning appearance on &#8220;Fox &amp; Friends,&#8221; telling anchor Brian Kilmeade that the president was standing behind Hegseth, &#8220;who is doing a phenomenal job leading the Pentagon.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a>: &quot;The President stands strongly behind <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecDef</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PeteHegseth</a>, who is doing a phenomenal job leading the Pentagon.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/8exZQSJr5a">pic.twitter.com/8exZQSJr5a</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1914299932854407660?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
National Public Radio (NPR) followed up the NYT report with an anonymously-sourced story claiming that the White House was already looking for a replacement for Hegseth — a claim that Leavitt immediately disputed.
&#8220;This @NPR story is total FAKE NEWS based on one anonymous source who clearly has no idea what they are talking about. As the President said this morning, he stands strongly behind @SecDef.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
This ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/NPR?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NPR</a>⁩ story is total FAKE NEWS based on one anonymous source who clearly has no idea what they are talking about. 
As the President said this morning, he stands strongly behind ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecDef</a>⁩. <a href="https://t.co/5Npig8968v">https://t.co/5Npig8968v</a>
&mdash; Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/1914371752685076757?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

US-POLITICS-TRUMP

Defense Department And White House Fire Back After Latest Hegseth Hit Piece

Karoline Leavitt

Media

White House

At a time when the Pentagon is finally waking up to the physical collapse of our armed forces, Texas has a unique opportunity to lead.
In March, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sounded the alarm with <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4118161/rapid-force-wide-review-of-military-standards/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a directive</a>: Military standards have dangerously eroded. “Our adversaries are not growing weaker,” he wrote. “Our tasks are not growing less challenging.”
He ordered a department-wide review of physical fitness, grooming, and readiness standards and <a href="https://x.com/SecDef/status/1907509325804798454" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently stated</a>, “For too long, we’ve allowed standards to slip within the ranks for men and women serving in combat MOSs. This is unacceptable and over.”
He also welcomed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to the Pentagon, pledging to ensure our warfighters are “healthy and fit to fight.” These moves reflect a growing recognition of the military’s readiness crisis — and that rebuilding a warrior culture requires action, not speeches.
Texas is answering that call.
The Texas Military Forces Health and Readiness Act (House Bill 4993) is a no-compromise legislative initiative to restore physical readiness, health, and resilience in the Texas Military Forces. It aligns with the Department of Defense’s renewed focus on standards and provides a battle-ready model that other states — and even the federal government — can adopt.
<h3>The Current Readiness Crisis And Systemic Failures</h3>
<div id="attachment_908487" style="width: 876px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-908487" class="size-large wp-image-908487" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2133324574-866x576.jpg" alt="EL PASO, TEXAS - APRIL 02: Texas National Guard soldiers transport border fencing layered with concertina wire near the Rio Grande river on April 02, 2024 in El Paso, Texas. Last week, hundreds of migrants seeking asylum clashed with Texas national guardsmen while waiting to turn themselves in to border patrol agents for processing. Texas continues awaiting a verdict on Senate Bill 4. Attorneys representing the state of Texas are scheduled to return to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans on April 3 to continue arguing for the constitutional basis of the bill. Senate Bill 4 allows state law enforcement officials to detain and arrest undocumented immigrants suspected of illegally crossing into the United States. Thus far, all prior attempts to put the Bill into effect have been blocked by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)" width="866" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2133324574-866x576.jpg 866w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2133324574-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2133324574-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2133324574.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 866px) 100vw, 866px" />Brandon Bell/Getty Images</div>
The National Guard plays an increasingly vital dual role: it must respond to domestic crises and be ready to “fight tonight” in peer-level combat operations. Hegseth has emphasized the need to “match threats to capabilities.” But for states like Texas — where the Guard is expected to conduct disaster operations, support border security, and remain deployable worldwide — this mission cannot be met under current conditions.
This isn’t just about pushups. America’s military readiness crisis is real, and it’s gutting our combat capability across the force. Military readiness isn’t a slogan — it’s the bedrock of deterrence and victory. Yet today, 68% of U.S. service members are overweight or obese, according to a 2023 report by the American Security Project. Fitness-related health costs and lost duty time exceed $1.35 billion annually, directly sabotaging operational effectiveness. That’s bad enough for active-duty forces — but for the National Guard, the situation is catastrophic.
If active-duty service members with full access to resources are struggling, the situation for part-time National Guard forces is even more dire. In Texas, part-time Guardsmen train a fraction of the time compared to Active Duty. They are spread across vast distances, often without access to adequate training facilities, wellness programs, or basic fitness infrastructure. Unlike the Active Duty, the Guard operates with persistent disparities in funding, support services, and oversight. Wellness programs go underutilized, accountability is virtually nonexistent, and time for physical training is painfully limited. The result? A force on the edge of collapse — unfit, underprepared, and unable to meet the demands of today’s missions. This isn’t just a training problem. It’s a strategic liability.
<h3>The Army’s Food Scandal: A Symptom Of The Larger Collapse</h3>
Adding insult to injury is the military’s broken nutrition system. A January 2025 Military.com <a href="https://www.military.com/daily-news/investigations-and-features/2025/02/14/over-151-million-taken-soldiers-paychecks-food-costs-spent-elsewhere-army.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">investigation</a> found that the Army diverted over $151 million in food allowance payments from junior enlisted soldiers, with only 30% of those funds actually going toward meals. At Fort Cavazos in Texas, only $11.7 million of $42.5 million collected went to feed troops. Other bases relied on vending machines stocked with sugary snacks, or served meals of toast and lima beans — or no meals at all.
This isn’t just a logistical failure. It’s a betrayal of the trust and conditions necessary for building a capable, professional fighting force. For the National Guard, already starved of resources and time, this neglect is lethal. This is not a military prepared to win wars — it’s a hollow shell.
<div id="attachment_908491" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-908491" class="size-large wp-image-908491" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1928669611-864x576.jpg" alt="EAGLE PASS, TEXAS - JANUARY 12: National Guard soldiers stand guard on the banks of the Rio Grande river at Shelby Park on January 12, 2024 in Eagle Pass, Texas. The Texas National Guard continues its blockade and surveillance of Shelby Park in an effort to deter illegal immigration. The Department of Justice has accused the Texas National Guard of blocking Border Patrol agents from carrying out their duties along the river. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1928669611-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1928669611-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1928669611-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1928669611.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Brandon Bell/Getty Images</div>
<h3>HB 4993: A Texas-Size Fix</h3>
HB <a href="https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/HB04993I.htm">4993</a> is a Texas-sized solution to this national crisis. It creates a comprehensive, accountable system to rebuild readiness:
<ul>
<li>Statewide Fitness Access: State-funded gym memberships and access to certified civilian trainers ensure Guardsmen across Texas can train consistently, regardless of location.</li>
<li>Integrated Digital Platform: Service members get real-time fitness tracking, customized plans, injury prevention, and mental health tools in a secure app.</li>
<li>Comprehensive Wellness Services: The bill funds rehabilitation, nutrition counseling, mental health support, and family-based fitness programs, because force readiness starts at home.</li>
<li>Performance-Based Culture: Structured incentives, advancement pathways, and public recognition will restore the warrior ethos and reward excellence.</li>
<li>Transparency and Accountability: Quarterly reports to the Legislature, corrective action plans, and unit-level oversight. If readiness falters, the system adapts — now, not later.</li>
<li>Minimal Cost, Maximum Return: This initiative delivers a high-impact return at a fraction of the $1.35 billion national fitness-related losses. This is a high-impact, low-cost readiness reform that delivers immediate and lasting results — saving lives, taxpayer dollars, and national security. </li>
</ul>
<h3>Reinforcing National Readiness Priorities</h3>
For too long, the physical and mental health of our service members has been allowed to rot — not because of funding shortages, but because of cowardice, complacency, and a lack of standards. HB 4993 rejects that failure. It embodies the resolve to act decisively and reforge a professional force worthy of the missions it’s expected to carry out.
This is the moment for Texas to lead. HB 4993 supports the national call to “Make America Healthy Again” and hands other states a clear, scalable playbook. The health, fitness, and discipline of our military are not internal HR concerns — they are national security imperatives.
Readiness isn’t negotiable. It’s the prerequisite for effective deterrence, mission success, and survival in a world of growing threats. Texas is doing its part. Now the Texas Legislature must rise to the occasion — and show the nation what readiness, resolve, and responsibility really look like.
* * *
Ammon Blair is a Senior Fellow for the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s ‘Secure &amp; Sovereign Texas’ Initiative.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

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Rebuilding The Warrior Class: Texas Can Lead With Military Fitness Reform

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A second Defense Department official — this time the Pentagon&#8217;s Deputy Chief of Staff — has been relieved of duty and placed on administrative leave amid a probe into &#8220;unauthorized disclosures&#8221; regarding key figures within the department.
Darin Selnick, DoD deputy chief of staff, was <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/15/caldwell-pentagon-leaks-00291735" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly suspended</a> and escorted from the Pentagon just one day after Dan Caldwell, an aide to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, was also removed from the building under suspicion that he was involved in leaking information. Both Selnick and Caldwell have previously worked with Hegseth at a veterans group the defense secretary headed, Concerned Veterans for America.
An <a href="https://media.defense.gov/2025/Mar/21/2003674265/-1/-1/0/EFFORTS-TO-COMBAT-UNAUTHORIZED-DISCLOSURES-OSD002809-25-RES-FINAL.PDF">investigation</a> into the matter was announced last month, citing &#8220;recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information,&#8221; which, according to reports, included revealing details regarding billionaire Elon Musk&#8217;s visit to the Pentagon and the defense secretary&#8217;s recent trip to Panama.
DOD Chief of Staff Joe Kasper said when the probe was announced, &#8220;The use of polygraphs in the execution of this investigation will be in accordance with applicable law and policy. This investigation will commence immediately and culminate in a report to the Secretary of Defense.&#8221;
The Defense Department is not alone in its struggle to uncover those who would leak unauthorized information.
Homeland Security Secretary <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hegseth-adviser-placed-on-leave-amid-defense-department-leak-probe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kristi Noem</a> announced a similar probe in March, with DHS assistant secretary for public affairs Tricia McLaughlin telling <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/noems-homeland-security-unapologetic-about-using-lie-detector-test-suspected-intel-leakers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox News Digital</a> that the Department of Homeland Security would also utilize polygraph testing in its effort to root out any potential leakers.
&#8220;Under Secretary Noem’s leadership, DHS is unapologetic about its efforts to root out leakers that undermine national security. We are agnostic about your standing, tenure, political appointment or status as a career civil servant – we will track down leakers and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law,&#8221; McLaughlin said at the time.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard also vowed to hold leakers accountable, saying, &#8220;Politically motivated leaks undermine our national security and the trust of the American people and will not be tolerated. Unfortunately, such leaks have become commonplace with no investigation or accountability. That ends now.&#8221;

Second Hegseth Advisor Booted From Pentagon Amid Leak Probe

Dan Caldwell, adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has been placed on leave pending an ongoing investigation into leaks in the Defense Department, The Daily Wire has confirmed.
An official within the Defense Department confirmed the report to Daily Wire White House Correspondent Mary Margaret Olohan on Tuesday.
&#8220;NEW: Defense Department official confirms to @realDailyWire that Dan Caldwell, a top advisor to Secretary Pete Hegseth, has been placed on leave related to an investigation into DOD leaks,&#8221; Olohan shared via X.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
NEW: Defense Department official confirms to <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDailyWire</a> that Dan Caldwell, a top advisor to Secretary Pete Hegseth, has been placed on leave related to an investigation into DOD leaks.
&mdash; Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/1912233949281071239?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/top-hegseth-advisor-dan-caldwell-put-leave-pentagon-leak-probe-2025-04-15/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reuters</a> reported earlier in the day that Caldwell had been escorted out of the Pentagon over what an anonymous source had described as &#8220;an unauthorized disclosure.&#8221;
Hegseth has not yet commented publicly on the situation, and no reports have surfaced yet regarding what the &#8220;unauthorized disclosure&#8221; may have been.
Officials across President Donald Trump&#8217;s first presidential administration were plagued with leaks, prompting several of those with key positions in the current administration to strike proactive poses regarding those who might leak information to media outlets.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has employed polygraph testing in her efforts to root out suspected leakers within the DHS. Tricia McLaughlin, DHS&#8217; assistant secretary for public affairs, issued a statement to <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/noems-homeland-security-unapologetic-about-using-lie-detector-test-suspected-intel-leakers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox News Digital</a> on that initiative, saying, &#8220;Under Secretary Noem’s leadership, DHS is unapologetic about its efforts to root out leakers that undermine national security. We are agnostic about your standing, tenure, political appointment or status as a career civil servant – we will track down leakers and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.&#8221;
Director of National Intelligence <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gabbard-aggressively-pursuing-intel-community-leaks-to-legacy-media" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tulsi Gabbard</a> has also taken a hardline stance on potential leakers in the intelligence community, saying in a statement, &#8220;Politically motivated leaks undermine our national security and the trust of the American people and will not be tolerated. Unfortunately, such leaks have become commonplace with no investigation or accountability. That ends now. We know of and are aggressively pursuing recent leakers from within the Intelligence Community and will hold them accountable.&#8221;

Hegseth Adviser Placed On Leave Amid Defense Department Leak Probe

U.S.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has &#8220;removed U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield from her position as U.S. representative to NATO’s military committee,&#8221; Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell announced on Tuesday.
Parnell announced the news in a statement on X, adding that Vice Admiral Chatfield had been removed by the Defense Secretary &#8220;due to a loss of confidence in her ability to lead,&#8221; but giving no specifics as to what that might mean. He further noted, &#8220;The Defense Department is grateful for her many years of military service.&#8221;
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Secretary Hegseth has removed U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield from her position as U.S. representative to NATO’s military committee due to a loss of confidence in her ability to lead. The Defense Department is grateful for her many years of military service.
&mdash; Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellATSD) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanParnellATSD/status/1909613375115370775?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Chatfield has held the position since 2023, after a delay in her promotion due to Sen. Tommy Tuberville&#8217;s lengthy blockade of military promotions over the Pentagon&#8217;s abortion policies — but comments she had made in previous years were what put her on the radar of conservative critics.
Speaking on Women&#8217;s Equality Day in 2015, for example, Chatfield had complained about the gender imbalance in the halls of power and said that &#8220;investing in gender equality and women&#8217;s empowerment can unlock human potential on a transformational scale.&#8221;
Chatfield, the only woman serving on the NATO Military Committee, is the third high-ranking female military officer to be relieved of duty since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January. Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to hold the top rank in the United States Navy, was also let go earlier this year; as was Admiral Linda Fagan, the U.S. Coast Guard&#8217;s first female leader.
No specific reason has been given for Chatfield&#8217;s termination, and thus far, the Defense Department has given no indication of who might serve as her replacement or when that replacement might be chosen.

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Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

NATO

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon&#8217;s independent watchdog announced on Thursday that it is reviewing how Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth used Signal in a group chat with top National Security officials as they discussed military strikes against the Houthis.
Acting Inspector General Steven Stebbins <a href="https://media.defense.gov/2025/Apr/03/2003681607/-1/-1/1/EVALUATION%20OF%20THE%20SECRETARY%20OF%20DEFENSE'S%20REPORTED%20USE%20OF%20A%20COMMERCIALLY%20AVAILABLE%20MESSAGE%20APPLICATION%20FOR%20OFFICER%20BUSINESS%20(PROJECT%20NO.%20D2025-DEV0PC-0095.000).PDF">shared the news in a letter to Hegseth</a>, noting that the evaluation is in response to a request from the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee who asked for an investigation into Hegseth&#8217;s use of &#8220;an unclassified commercially available messaging application,&#8221; as Stebbins wrote.
&#8220;The objective of this evaluation is to determine the extent to which the Secretary of Defense and other DoD personnel complied with DoD policies and procedures for the use of a commercial messaging application for official business,&#8221; Stebbins said in the letter. &#8220;Additionally, we will review compliance with classification and records retention requirements. We may revise the objective as the evaluation proceeds.&#8221;
<p class="paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm91owy4k00063b6m21cns9v1@published" data-editable="text" data-component-name="paragraph" data-article-gutter="true" data-analytics-observe="off">Both the White House and Hegseth himself have maintained that the information shared in the Signal chat was not classified.
In mid March, The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg, a journalist known for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-house-acknowledges-journalist-was-inadvertently-added-to-high-level-chat-on-houthi-strikes">his critical pieces</a> on Trump, revealed that he had been inadvertently added to a national security group chat in which top Trump officials discussed airstrikes in Yemen. That chat included Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and other members of Trump’s inner circle on March 15, as the national security team deliberated launching airstrikes on the Houthis.
The White House confirmed shortly after Goldberg published his story that the chat appeared to be authentic, and has since said that no classified information was shared. Hegseth has also pushed back against the notion that “war plans” were shared, and the entire Trump team has aggressively messaged that The Atlantic is a liberal, anti-Trump publication — and that Goldberg himself is a hack.
<div id="attachment_902761" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pentagon-ig-to-investigate-pete-hegseths-signal-use/president-trump-meets-with-nato-secretary-general-mark-rutte-in-the-oval-office-of-the-white-house-3" rel="attachment wp-att-902761"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-902761" class="wp-image-902761 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2204329121-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2204329121-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2204329121-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2204329121-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2204329121.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>(Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)</div>
The evaluation will be performed in accordance with the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency &#8220;Quality Standards for Inspection and Evaluation,&#8221; Stebbins said, and it will be performed in Washington, D.C., and at the U.S. Central Command Headquarters in Tampa, Florida — though they may identify additional locations during the evaluation.
&#8220;We request that you designate two points of contact for this evaluation within 5 days of this memorandum,&#8221; the letter states. &#8220;One point of contact should be a Government employee—a GS-15, pay band equivalent, or military equivalent—who is knowledgeable of the subject. The second point of contact should be a member of the Senior Executive Service or a General/Flag Officer who is familiar with the subject and could serve as a point of engagement with DoD Office of Inspector General senior leaders, if necessary.&#8221;

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Pentagon IG To Investigate Pete Hegseth’s Signal Use

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Tuesday that the remains of the fourth U.S. Army soldier had been recovered in Lithuania after a training accident. The remains of the three others had already been recovered.
Hegseth delivered the sad news in an X post shortly after announcing his arrival at the United States Naval Academy for a visit with future leaders in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.
&#8220;Today, I was informed that the remains of the fourth and final missing U.S. Army Soldier from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division were recovered in Lithuania,&#8221; Hegseth posted.
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Today, I was informed that the remains of the fourth and final missing U.S. Army Soldier from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division were recovered in Lithuania. I want to personally extend my deepest condolences to the families of all four fallen Soldiers.…
&mdash; Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef/status/1907101067864666116?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;
&#8220;I want to personally extend my deepest condolences to the families of all four fallen Soldiers. Our hearts are heavy across the Department of Defense. We are deeply grateful to our brave service members who enabled this difficult recovery and to our Lithuanian hosts who labored alongside them,&#8221; Hegseth continued. &#8220;The recovery was conducted with urgency, resolve and deep respect for the fallen. We will never forget these soldiers — and our prayers are with their families.&#8221;
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also addressed the news from the podium during Tuesday&#8217;s briefing, sending condolences from President Donald Trump and the administration to the families and units affected by the loss.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a> “The President, The Secretary of Defense, and the entire White House are praying for friends and family during this unimaginable time.” <a href="https://t.co/cDoMbpqsAU">pic.twitter.com/cDoMbpqsAU</a>
&mdash; DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) <a href="https://twitter.com/DODResponse/status/1907104942516539575?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;I want to start today by addressing the U.S. Army soldiers who went missing while conducting a mission to repair and tow an immobilized tactical vehicle in Lithuania in the early hours of March 25th,&#8221; Leavitt began. &#8220;Tragically, three soldiers were found deceased in Lithuania yesterday, and it pains me to confirm that today, the fourth soldier was also found deceased.&#8221;
&#8220;The President, The Secretary of Defense, and the entire White House are praying for the victims&#8217; friends and family during this unimaginable time,&#8221; she added. &#8220;this is another stark reminder of the selfless sacrifice of our brave military men and women who risk their lives around the world every day to keep us safe. God bless them.&#8221;

SecDef: Remains Of Fourth Missing Soldier Recovered In Lithuania

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World

WASHINGTON—Jenn Hegseth has never attended meetings with her husband, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, where either sensitive information or classified information was discussed, a Pentagon spokeswoman told The Daily Wire.
The statement refutes a report from The Wall Street Journal that Hegseth brought his wife to &#8220;sensitive meetings with foreign military officials.&#8221; Hegseth spokeswoman Kingsley Wilson told The Daily Wire that she made the Journal aware of the &#8220;inaccuracies&#8221; in its reporting, but that the publication stood by its reporting and chose not to update its story.
Further, the Wall Street Journal reporter who reached out initially sent the Pentagon a list of almost two dozen questions with a 90-minute deadline while the Defense team was traveling abroad in Japan, The Daily Wire has learned. When the Defense team received the inquiry, an official shared, it was past midnight in Japan.
The Defense Department told the Journal the deadline was unrealistic, and in the morning, told the publication that Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell would call as soon as they landed in Iwo Jima. However, the Journal published the story while the Pentagon team was in the air, between 8:00 and 9:30 a.m. Tokyo time. When Parnell called the reporter, that reporter said she stood by her reporting.
The incident further demonstrates to the Defense Department that legacy media outlets and D.C. politicians are &#8220;knives out&#8221; for Hegseth, a Defense Department official shared Monday — they&#8217;ll do &#8220;anything they can to undermine his efforts,&#8221; that official said.
<div id="attachment_900459" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pentagon-refutes-wsj-report-that-pete-hegseths-wife-attended-classified-meetings/senate-armed-services-committee-holds-confirmation-hearing-for-pete-hegseth-2" rel="attachment wp-att-900459"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-900459" class="wp-image-900459 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2193331915-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2193331915-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2193331915-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2193331915-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2193331915.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>Jennifer and Pete Hegseth (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)</div>
The publication suggested that Hegseth&#8217;s wife&#8217;s presence by his side, whether in meetings with senators ahead of his confirmation or in meetings abroad with foreign officials, signaled that Hegseth is negligent in handling sensitive information. The Journal also highlighted that Jenn Hegseth formerly worked for Fox News as a producer and then as vice president at Fox Nation.
Parnell, the chief spokesman for Hegseth, praised Jenn Hegseth in response to the story.
&#8220;Secretary Hegseth’s wife is an incredibly accomplished woman and leader,&#8221; Parnell told The Daily Wire. &#8220;She is an asset to her husband and an advocate for military families.”
The publication claimed that Jenn Hegseth attended a &#8220;high-level discussion at the Pentagon&#8221; on March 6, a discussion that took place between U.K. Secretary of Defense John Healey and Secretary Hegseth shortly after the United States announced that it had cut off sharing military intelligence with Ukraine.
Two people familiar with the meeting told the Journal that the Pentagon meeting discussed the United States&#8217; rationale behind ending military intelligence sharing with Ukraine as well as future military collaboration between the United States and Ukraine.
Jenn Hegseth exited the March 6 meeting &#8220;before any sensitive and classified discussions occurred,&#8221; Wilson told The Daily Wire.
The Journal also reported that Jenn Hegseth attended a meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, where allied defense officials discussed support for Ukraine.
Again, Wilson says that Jenn Hegseth attended only the public remarks at the NATO meeting.
She also pushed back on the Journal&#8217;s framing that Hegseth&#8217;s brother, Phillip Hegseth, was &#8220;currently traveling with Hegseth on a tour to visit American allies and bases in Asia.&#8221;
&#8220;He is conducting touch points with U.S. Coast Guard officials as a DHS senior advisor and liaison to DOD,&#8221; she explained, noting that Phillip Hegseth also traveled with his brother on the Defense Secretary&#8217;s trip to the Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB), coordinating with ICE personnel in his role as a DHS senior advisor.
Additionally, the Journal attributed a number of items of information to Wilson herself that the spokeswoman says she never told the publication. The paper discussed Phillip Hegseth and his new roles with attribution to Wilson. The publication also attributes Wilson when it said that Phillip Hegseth was traveling with his brother in Asia and to Guantanamo Bay last month.
<div>The Wall Street Journal did not immediately respond to The Daily Wire&#8217;s request for comment.</div>

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Pentagon Refutes WSJ Report That Pete Hegseth’s Wife Attended Classified Meetings

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