defense secretary

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Graham: Hegseth to Free Accuser From NDA

SC senator says he's a tentative 'yes' on ex-Fox News host leading DOD, despite sex assault claim

(Newser) - Pete Hegseth's path to becoming secretary of defense has seen multiple obstacles, including a 2017 sexual assault allegation and an unflattering email from his own mother . On the latter, GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham says Hegseth is ready to make a big move—releasing his accuser in that case from...

Pete Hegseth's Chances Have Suddenly Improved
How Pete Hegseth's Chances
Have Suddenly Improved
the rundown
Dec 10, 2024 6:54 AM CST

How Pete Hegseth's Chances Have Suddenly Improved

Skeptical GOP senator, Joni Ernst, signals support after fierce backlash

(Newser) - A week ago, it seemed that Pete Hegseth's chances of becoming the next defense secretary were doomed, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis floated as a possible replacement . Things look much different now, however, after what Punchbowl News describes as a "vibe shift" on Capitol Hill in favor of...

Pete Hegseth Says He's 'Not Going Anywhere'

He vows to abstain from alcohol as defense secretary to woo hesitant senators

(Newser) - "We're not going anywhere," Pete Hegseth told reporters Wednesday as he tried to convince lawmakers to back his bid to become defense secretary. "I spoke to the president this morning, he supports me fully," said the former Fox News host. President-elect Trump is reportedly considering...

Report: Hegseth's Fox Colleagues Worried About His Drinking

Co-workers anonymously describe behavior they found concerning

(Newser) - Pete Hegseth was hit with another controversial report Tuesday. Ten current and former Fox News employees tell NBC News that during Hegseth's tenure as a co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend—which started in 2017 and ended after President-elect Trump announced Hegseth as his choice to lead the Defense...

Senators Back Hegseth as Another Controversy Is Revealed

Member of Trump's inner circle was apparently no fan of Hegseth's years back

(Newser) - The controversy around Pete Hegseth is growing. Sources tell CBS News that back in 2016, allegations of financial mismanagement, sexual misconduct, a toxic workplace environment, and alcohol problems including public intoxication led to a group of Republicans pushing to remove Hegseth as head of a charity for veterans. Hegseth started...

Email to Pete Hegseth From His Mom Is Raising Eyebrows

Penelope Hegseth is now disavowing her 2018 letter in which she accused him of abusing women

(Newser) - "The family dynamics of Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of defense, have burst out into the open," reports the Guardian , after a six-year-old email to him from his own mother was leaked to the media. The New York Times got its hands on the 2018...

Controversy Over Defense Pick Caught Trump Team Off Guard

But president-elect backs pick for defense amid allegations of sexual assault, reports NYT

(Newser) - Donald Trump has made clear to aides that he's sticking with Fox host Pete Hegseth as his pick for defense secretary amid allegations of a sexual assault , reports the New York Times . The newspaper's Maggie Haberman reports that Trump spoke with Hegseth a few days ago, after the...

Defense Chief Pick Not a Fan of Women in Combat
Potential Defense Chief:
No Women in Combat
the rundown
Nov 14, 2024 10:55 AM CST

Potential Defense Chief: No Women in Combat

It's not clear if Pete Hegseth would attempt to reverse Pentagon rule

(Newser) - "I'm straight up just saying that we should not have women in combat roles," Fox News host Pete Hegseth declared on a recent podcast. The reason his view is gaining attention, of course, is because Hegseth is President-elect Trump's choice to be the next defense secretary...

As Mideast Tensions Spike, US Sends in Extra Firepower

Guided-missile sub, USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier are en route

(Newser) - US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered a guided-missile submarine to the Middle East and is telling the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to sail more quickly to the area, the Defense Department said Sunday. The moves come as the US and other allies push for Israel and...

Defense Chief Undergoes Another Medical Procedure

Lloyd Austin has already resumed duties after Friday procedure for ongoing bladder issues

(Newser) - Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin underwent a medical procedure at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Friday evening and has resumed duties after temporarily transferring power to his deputy, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement. Austin is continuing to deal with bladder issues that arose in...

Defense Secretary Austin Discharged From Hospital

Pentagon says he has resumed full duties but will be working from home for a few days

(Newser) - Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was released from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Tuesday, ending his second stay since surgery to treat prostate cancer, and he has resumed his full duties, the Pentagon said. Austin, 70, has had ongoing health issues since undergoing surgery in December. He was taken...

Defense Chief Offers Public Mea Culpa
Defense Chief Admits
His Mistake
Feb 1, 2024 11:39 AM CST

Defense Chief Admits His Mistake

'I should have told the president about my cancer,' says Lloyd Austin

(Newser) - Defense chief Lloyd Austin swears he's learned his lesson. In his first press conference since a hospital stay he kept secret , Austin issued a mea culpa for not being more forthcoming:
  • '"I want to be crystal clear: We did not handle this right. I did not handle this
...

Special Request in Lloyd Austin's 911 Call: Be 'Subtle'
911 Call for
Lloyd Austin
Is Out
Jan 17, 2024 7:21 AM CST

911 Call for Lloyd Austin Is Out

Aide asked for ambulance heading to defense secretary's home to be 'subtle' about it

(Newser) - Lloyd Austin was released from Walter Reed hospital on Monday, two weeks after being secretly admitted for complications following surgery for prostate cancer. Now, audio is out of the call requesting an ambulance be sent to the defense secretary's Virginia home on New Year's Day, with a special...

Lloyd Austin Ends a Much Scrutinized Hospital Stay

Defense secretary is discharged from Walter Reed after 2 weeks, will work from home for now

(Newser) - Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was released from the hospital Monday, after spending two weeks there to treat complications from surgery for prostate cancer he kept secret from senior Biden administration leaders and staff for weeks. He is expected to work from home as he recovers, reports the AP . Austin, 70,...

Pentagon Watchdog to Investigate Austin Controversy

Defense chief failed to disclose his hospitalization

(Newser) - The Pentagon's internal watchdog said Thursday he will review the secrecy surrounding Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's hospitalization and why the Defense Department waited days to inform the White House that he had transferred authority to his deputy. Austin, 70, is still in the hospital being treated for complications...

Ex-Pentagon Chief Panetta on Austin Incident: 'Serious Risk'

Defense secretary's secrecy over hospitalization, subject of a formal inquiry, remains in the spotlight

(Newser) - Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is continuing to work from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on what's now the 11th day of his current hospitalization. Meanwhile, a storm continues to brew over the failure of the secretary, second in the line of military command, to notify officials that he...

Biden Won't Accept Austin's Resignation, Aides Say

Defense secretary also was hospitalized in December without telling White House, Pentagon says

(Newser) - The Pentagon has said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin does not plan to offer the president his resignation, and several Biden administration officials said he wouldn't accept it anyway. Austin is in hot water for not telling a long list of people who might need to know that he was...

Biden Didn't Know About Defense Chief's Ailment for 3 Days

Pentagon didn't immediately inform White House Lloyd Austin was in the hospital

(Newser) - The White House press corps and members of Congress are miffed they didn't know defense chief Lloyd Austin was in the hospital . But Politico reports a remarkable addendum to that: President Biden himself didn't know for three days that his secretary was out of action. The outlet says...

Questions Arise Over 'Evolving Situation' With Defense Secretary

Lloyd Austin's hospitalization on Jan. 1 for complications following surgery was kept quiet

(Newser) - Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is already home after being hospitalized most of the week—except almost no one knew he'd been hospitalized in the first place. The Pentagon announced Friday that Austin, 70, checked into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on New Year's Day, after he suffered...

Ash Carter Oversaw Big Changes to US Military
Ash Carter Oversaw
Big Changes to US Military
OBITUARY
Oct 25, 2022 11:28 AM CDT

Ash Carter Oversaw Big Changes to US Military

Former defense secretary dies of heart attack at age 68

(Newser) - Ash Carter, who as defense secretary in the final two years of the Obama administration opened military combat jobs to women and ended a ban on transgender people serving in the military, has died at age 68. Carter died after suffering a heart attack on Monday evening, according a statement...

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