Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth left no doubt in anyone&#8217;s mind that he was serious about rooting out Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the military and returning to traditional priorities. &#8220;DEI is dead,&#8221; he declared from Capitol Hill during a Tuesday hearing.
Hegseth laid out the priorities of the Defense Department under his leadership and that of President Donald Trump, saying first that &#8220;restoring the Warrior Ethos&#8221; was at the top of the list. The Warrior Ethos, as described in the Soldier&#8217;s Creed, is as follows: &#8220;I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade.&#8221;
&#8220;President Trump has charged me with focusing on war-fighting, lethality, meritocracy, standards, and readiness,&#8221; Hegseth explained, adding that there was no room for DEI in a DoD with those priorities. &#8220;That&#8217;s exactly what we&#8217;re doing.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
. <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecDef</a> &#8220;We are focused on what is important. WARFIGHTING and WARRIORS&#8230;
DEI IS DEAD. We replaced it with a colorblind gender-neutral merit-based approach.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/TgIeCdN94W">pic.twitter.com/TgIeCdN94W</a>
— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) <a href="https://twitter.com/DODResponse/status/1932440827134984453?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;We are focused on what is important. War-fighting and warriors. We&#8217;re sweeping away distractions and bloated bureaucracy. We&#8217;ve set standards that are high, equal, and unwavering. DEI is dead. We replaced it with a colorblind, gender-neutral, merit-based approach.&#8221;
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Hegseth went on to say that the response to those changes had been positive — and, in fact, had led to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/less-woke-more-lethal-military-hits-major-milestones-under-trump-and-hegseth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">record recruitment numbers</a> in recent weeks.
Later on in the hearing, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) ribbed Hegseth about the changes, asking whether any troops had complained about not being able to include their preferred pronouns in military correspondence.
&#8220;Is that not a priority for the folks that are now signing up for our military?&#8221; he asked.
Hegseth laughed: &#8220;Well, sir, if they wanted to get a woke indoctrination, they could just go to college. Instead, they are joining the military, where we are focused on basics. We know men are men and women are women. Standards will be high, and we&#8217;re getting rid of the distractions, the ideologies, the politicization that was in our ranks so that soldiers, men and women can do their jobs on behalf of the nation.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Q: Is it not a priority for the folks of our military to use pronouns. <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecDef</a> &#8220;If they want to get a woke indoctrination they can just go to college. Instead, they are joining the military where we are focused on basics.
We know MEN ARE MEN and WOMEN ARE WOMEN. STANDARDS WILL… <a href="https://t.co/G0uvpdqTrB">pic.twitter.com/G0uvpdqTrB</a>
— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) <a href="https://twitter.com/DODResponse/status/1932455613616853131?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth Meets With El Salvador Minister Of National Defense Rene Merino Monroy At The Pentagon

‘DEI Is Dead’: Pete Hegseth Says In Trump’s Defense Department, ‘Men Are Men And Women Are Women’

'DEI Is Dead': Pete Hegseth Says In Trump's Defense Department, 'Men Are Men And Women Are Women'

Congress

Department of Defense

Donald Trump

Military

Pete Hegseth

Politics

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sharply criticized Minnesota Democratic Governor and failed vice president candidate Tim Walz for his handling of the 2020 Minneapolis riots while defending the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-sends-another-2000-national-guard-troops-to-l-a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deployment</a> of National Guardsmen and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles to protect against violent anti-ICE protests.
In a hearing on Capitol Hill, Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) noted how both she and Hegseth are from Minnesota and claimed President Donald Trump’s deployment of troops to Los Angeles was “premature and escalatory,&#8221; insisting the situation in 2020 was &#8220;more volatile&#8221; when Walz called in the National Guard. Hegseth fired back after the congresswoman got to asking how the deployment in L.A. affected the defense budget and duties.
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🔥 WATCH: <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecDef</a> calmly dismantles Minnesota Rep. <a href="https://twitter.com/BettyMcCollum04?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BettyMcCollum04</a> when she tries to grill him on the cost of deploying National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles:
&#8220;I recall 2020 quite well when <a href="https://twitter.com/GovTimWalz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GovTimWalz</a> abandoned a police precinct and allowed it to be burned to the ground&#8230;… <a href="https://t.co/tltKWcgBEQ">pic.twitter.com/tltKWcgBEQ</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1932444502565744888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;You are right, we are both originally from Minnesota. Which is why I recall 2020 quite well, when Governor Walz abandoned a police precinct and allowed it to be burned to the ground — and also allowed five days of chaos to occur inside the streets of Minneapolis,&#8221; Hegseth said.
Hegseth took a swipe at California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/california-sues-trump-over-national-guard-deployment-says-president-manufactured-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sued</a> Trump, Hegseth, and the Department of Defense <a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/06/09/governor-newsom-suing-president-trump-and-department-of-defense-for-illegal-takeover-of-calguard-unit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">over</a> the National Guard deployment in Los Angeles because he did not request it.
&#8220;The police precinct, ma&#8217;am, was abandoned and burned to the ground. And because of that, the National Guard was eventually — far too late — mobilized. And President Trump recognizes a situation like that improperly handled by a governor — like it was by Governor Walz — if it gets out of control, is a bad situation for the citizens of any location,&#8221; Hegseth said.
He added, &#8220;So in Los Angeles, we believe that ICE, which is a federal law enforcement agency, has the right to safely conduct operations in any state and any jurisdiction in the country, especially after 21 million illegals have crossed into our country in the previous administration. ICE ought to be able to do its job whether it&#8217;s Minneapolis or Los Angeles.&#8221;
McCollum tried stopping Hegseth, complaining that she had limited time and wanted to keep the focus on the budget — even though she had been the one to bring up the priority of the troop deployment to Los Angeles and Walz&#8217;s response to the Minneapolis riots.
&#8220;You asked about the situation in Los Angeles, and we believe ICE agents should be allowed to be safe in doing their operations,&#8221; Hegseth said. &#8220;And we have deployed National Guard and the Marines to protect them in the execution of their duties, because we ought [to] be able to enforce immigration law in this country, unlike Governor Walz did in 2020.&#8221;

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

Hegseth Blasts Tim Walz For Mobilizing National Guard ‘Far Too Late’ During Minneapolis Riot Failure

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Los Angeles

Minneapolis

Minnesota

Protests

Riots

Tim Walz

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced late Saturday night that in addition to the National Guardsmen — who were being deployed to restore order in Los Angeles — he was placing active duty U.S. Marines at nearby Camp Pendleton on high alert.
Hegseth&#8217;s announcement, made via a post on X, came just hours after it was reported that President Donald Trump was deploying a number of National Guard troops as protesters clashed violently with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents across the Los Angeles area.
&#8220;The violent mob assaults on ICE and Federal Law Enforcement are designed to prevent the removal of Criminal Illegal Aliens from our soil; a dangerous invasion facilitated by criminal cartels (aka Foreign Terrorist Organizations) and a huge NATIONAL SECURITY RISK. Under President Trump, violence &amp; destruction against federal agents &amp; federal facilities will NOT be tolerated. It’s COMMON SENSE,&#8221; Hegseth said.
&#8220;The @DeptofDefense is mobilizing the National Guard IMMEDIATELY to support federal law enforcement in Los Angeles. And, if violence continues, active duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will also be mobilized — they are on high alert,&#8221; he added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The violent mob assaults on ICE and Federal Law Enforcement are designed to prevent the removal of Criminal Illegal Aliens from our soil; a dangerous invasion facilitated by criminal cartels (aka Foreign Terrorist Organizations) and a huge NATIONAL SECURITY RISK.
Under President…
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth/status/1931533276985823392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Under normal circumstances, the Posse Comitatus Act prevents the federal government from deploying the military for law enforcement purposes within the United States&#8217; borders, but the Insurrection Act of 1807 — actually a combination of several statutes enacted between 1792 and 1871 — stands as the one major exception to that. Trump could potentially rely on the Insurrection Act when defending his decision to send troops in to quell the unrest in Los Angeles.
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Under the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9qwez9zz7jo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Insurrection Act</a>, the federal government can mobilize the military domestically in order to enforce the law or quell rebellion under certain circumstances. It implements Congress&#8217; Constitutional authority to &#8220;provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
President Donald Trump can and should immediately use the Insurrection Act in Los Angeles. There is historic precedent to do so. <a href="https://t.co/69qy0fwC90">pic.twitter.com/69qy0fwC90</a>
— Carmine Sabia (@CarmineSabia) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarmineSabia/status/1931452202217803787?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The law can be implemented if and when a U.S. president determines that &#8220;unlawful obstructions, combinations, or assemblages, or rebellion&#8221; have arisen such that it becomes &#8220;impracticable to enforce&#8221; U.S. laws and maintain order &#8220;by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings.&#8221;

President-Elect Trump’s Cabinet Nominees Meet With Lawmakers On Capitol Hill

Pete Hegseth Puts Nearby U.S. Marines On High Alert As Los Angeles Burns

Marines

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he expects his &#8220;Golden Dome&#8221; missile defense project to be completed by the end of his term.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump announced that his administration had developed a draft architecture of what the Golden Dome would look like. He said that the project, which is expected to cost around $175 billion, would protect America from hypersonic, ballistic, and cruise missiles.
&#8220;Once fully constructed, the golden dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world, and even if they are launched from space, and we will have the best system ever built,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;We will truly be completing the job that President Reagan started 40 years ago forever ending the missile threat to the American homeland.&#8221;
Trump said the missile defense project &#8220;should be fully operational by the end of my term,&#8221; adding that the &#8220;one, big, beautiful bill&#8221; making its way through Congress would include the first $25 billion for the project. He first rolled out the plan in January, issuing an executive order for the Department of Defense to develop a next-generation missile defense program.
&#8220;This is very important for the success and even survival of our country, it&#8217;s an evil world out there, so this is something that goes a long way towards the survival of this great country,&#8221; he said, flanked by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Space Force General Michael Guetlein.
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Trump said Canada had already reached out to see if it could participate in the defense program, saying it would pay &#8220;their fair share&#8221; if it joined the project.
Guetlein, who was chosen to lead the initiative, said it was much needed in the face of overseas adversaries improving their missile technology.
&#8220;As you are aware, our adversaries have become very capable and very intent on holding the homeland at risk,&#8221; he said. &#8220;While we have been focused on keeping the peace overseas, our adversaries have been quickly modernizing their nuclear forces, building out ballistic missiles capable of hosting multiple warheads, building out hypersonic missiles capable of attacking the United States within an hour and traveling at 6,000 miles an hour.&#8221;
In a statement, Hegseth noted that the Golden Dome would involve space-based interceptors and sensors and that the system would be constructed in phases, prioritizing areas most vulnerable to threats. He added that the system was being designed with input from North American Aerospace Defense Command, United States Northern Command, and United States Space Command.

President Trump Makes Announcement With Defense Secretary Hegseth In The Oval Office

Trump Reveals New Details About ‘Golden Dome’ Missile Defense System To Protect U.S.

Air and Space

ballistic missiles

Executive

Ronald Reagan

United States Space Force

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

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

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

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>
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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.

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‘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

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

Drones

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>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&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.

Texas National Guard Works To Secure Southern Border In El Paso

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

National Guard

Obesity

Opinion

Soldiers

Texas

U.S. Air Force

U.S. Army

U.S. Military

U.S. Navy

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>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<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

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