WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), a Marine Corps combat veteran who served in Iraq, released the following statement on his vote against Pete Hegseth’s nomination to be the Secretary of Defense.
“The stakes could not be higher for the men and women who serve our country and put their lives on the line to secure our freedoms. Our servicemembers need an experienced leader, especially at a time when America is facing evolving threats, from conflict in the Middle East, to an increasingly aggressive China. Pete Hegseth is not that leader. He is unqualified to lead the Defense Department.”