Pentagon is pulled into politics as leader who promised to prioritize ‘warrior culture’ takes charge

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said that he and President Donald Trump want to “bring the warrior culture back to the Department of Defense.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said that he and President Donald Trump want to “bring the warrior culture back to the Department of Defense.” “He, like me, wants a Pentagon laser focused on warfighting, meritocracy, standards, and readiness. That’s it,” he said during his confirmation hearing earlier this month, later adding that “[u]nlike the current administration, politics should play no part in military matters.” Hegseth was confirmed by the Senate on Friday evening, but only by the narrowest of margins with Vice President JD Vance having to cast the deciding vote for a 51-50 margin. It’s not unusual for military leadership to shift priorities and carry out the mission laid before it by the commander in chief. But so far at the Pentagon, the new administration has seemed to prioritize a key Trump election promise — cracking down on immigration by moving troops and military aircraft to the US border with Mexico, despite illegal crossings there dropping substantially in recent months and years. There’s also been a focus on the culture wars which were prominent in Trump’s campaign, with the elimination of directives and efforts related to diversity, equity and inclusion, and a major symbolic move made in retaliation against Gen. Mark Milley – Trump’s former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff who he has since accused of “treasonous” acts. Within hours of Trump’s inauguration, Milley’s portrait was removed from the joint staff hallway which is lined with portraits of his predecessors. But the immediate priority has been made crystal clear. The Defense Department has been rushing all week to surge equipment and troops to the border, following Trump’s declaration of a national emergency there. Far from “warfighting,” however, the first 1,500 active duty troops deploying to the border will “support enhanced detection and monitoring efforts and repair and emplace physical barriers,” US Northern Command said in a statement.