ICYMI: Shaheen Presses Hegseth on Protecting American Troops in the Middle East and the Importance of International Agreements, Secures Secretary’s Commitment to Investigate Hiring Delays at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH),a senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, today questioned U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in his first appearance before the Committee since being confirmed to lead the Pentagon in January. As violence escalates in the Middle East and President Trump weighs U.S. involvement, Secretary Hegseth did nothing to reassure the American public that men and women deployed in the Middle East, as well as Americans living abroad, would be protected if the President decides to enter the United States into active hostilities. Following concerns she heard from partners abroad at the Paris Air Show, Shaheen pressed Hegseth on the importance of international agreements like AUKUS (Australia, United Kingdom and U.S.)—which Secretary Hegseth has placed under review—to efforts key to deterring China. Shaheen additionally secured commitment from Secretary Hegseth to raise hiring delays at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to quickly get public shipyard workers onboarded into the jobs they’ve been hired to do that are integral to national security.Clickhereto watch the Shaheen’s full remarks and questions.
Key Quotes from Shaheen:
Shaheenpressed Hegseth during a Defense Appropriations Subcommittee hearing last weekon the impacts of the administration’s tariffs on steel and aluminum on the defense industrial base, supply chain lead times and our overall military readiness. In aletterto Secretary Hegseth last month, Shaheenraised concerns about how the President’s trade war harms defense supply chainsand ultimately weakens America’s military readiness. The Senator expressed how tariffs on imports will increase prices for the Department of Defense’s defense acquisitions – harming its purchasing power and further raising costs on small businesses.
Citing national security concerns and a lack of qualifications on the Senate floor, Shaheen announced in January that Hegseth would be the first nominee for Secretary of Defense that sheopposedsince joining the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee in 2011.
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