Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently announced that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is welcomed at the Pentagon, emphasizing the need for a review of U.S. military posture globally to align with different strategic assumptions between President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden. Hegseth, during his first overseas trip as the head of the Department of Defense (DoD), engaged in physical training exercises with troops from the 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) to directly interact with them and learn about their missions.
Addressing the issue of defense spending, Hegseth echoed Trump's call for NATO members to allocate 5% of their GDP to defense, stating that the U.S. should not fall below 3% GDP in defense spending. He criticized the Biden administration for underinvesting in military capabilities and emphasized the importance of investing in rebuilding America's military.
Hegseth expressed support for a partnership with DOGE, led by Elon Musk, to identify and eliminate Pentagon waste, potentially saving billions of dollars. He highlighted the need to address inefficiencies in headquarters operations and weapons procurement programs while ensuring that any changes do not compromise American military capabilities.
Regarding force posture, Hegseth clarified that there are no immediate plans to shift U.S. forces from Europe to the Indo-Pacific to counter the Chinese threat. He emphasized the importance of reviewing force posture globally and adapting to different strategic assumptions between Trump and Biden.
In a symbolic move, Hegseth reversed Biden's decision to rename Fort Bragg back to its original name, Fort Liberty, reinstating the legacy of the base. The base will now honor Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, a World War II hero, instead of its original namesake, Gen. Braxton Bragg, a Confederate general.
