'I've Witnessed Sufficient': House Republican Criticizes Hegseth, Alleges Him of Preventing Military from Speaking Freely to Congress

Republican Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE), a retired Air Force general, spoke with host Dasha Burns on C-SPANs Ceasefire program, alongside Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA), addressing several issues, including controversies surrounding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

When asked about his perspective on Hegseths role, Bacon said, After SignalGate, I feel Ive seen enough. I was looking for someone to accept responsibility for their actions, but when he blamed the media instead, it completely damaged his credibility.

Bacon continued, noting that despite initial concerns during confirmation hearings, he had hoped Hegseth would prove capable. But what Ive observed is consistently poor decision-making. For instance, refusing accountability for SignalGate, imposing restrictive media rules, and limiting which journalists can access information inside the Pentagon. Major outlets like Fox, The New York Times, and The Washington Post now operate from outside, while internal military sources face barriers to communicating directly with Congress unless pre-approved by the Pentagon, he said.

He emphasized that some of Hegseths decisions on Ukraine and NATO demonstrate a lack of judgment that could harm long-standing alliances. Our relationship with NATO has been a cornerstone of national security for seventy-five years. Actions being taken under the Secretarys guidance, often with White House input but largely driven by the Under Secretary for Policy, risk damaging our credibility with allies for years, Bacon warned.

He concluded that these choices undermine trust and pose a long-term threat to U.S. security, stressing that the impact will last well beyond the current administration.

Author: Gavin Porter