Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s evasive and smirking answers to questions about his firing respected military officials at the Pentagon earned him a dressing down Wednesday from Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), a retired Air Force officer.
Under questioning about the Pentagon purge initiated by the former Fox News weekend host, who was tapped by Donald Trump to oversee the Pentagon, the Pennsylvania Democrat focused on the firing of Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, which has also alarmed Republican lawmakers.
Hegseth initially repeatedly insisted he could not divulge why he fired George due to privacy concerns, which did not satisfy Houlahan. He finally snapped at her questioning and replied, “Out of respect for these officers, we never talk about the nature of their removal, but every one of them, including myself, knows that they serve at the pleasure of the president. Ultimately, out of respect to these officers, we don't reveal it. However, I will note it's very difficult to change the culture of a department that has been destroyed by the wrong perspectives.”
“So General George destroyed the culture?” the retired veteran shot back.
‘There are many—” Hegseth began before stuttering and then continuing, “We've gotten rid of many general officers in this administration because we need new leadership.”
“You have no answer, you have no way of explaining why you fired one of the most decorated and remarkable men who has served this nation,” Houlahan accused.
“We needed new leadership,” Hegseth insisted with a smirk before adding, “That’s my answer.”
”So your answer is a very immature way of responding to my request,” the lawmaker tersely replied.
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