Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) sent a 33-page letter to Defense Secretary Nominee Pete Hegseth on Monday, defending the Biden administration’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in the military and criticizing Hegseth’s stance against them. Warren expressed concern that Hegseth, if confirmed, would implement President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to roll back DEI initiatives and other woke policies in the Pentagon.
In her letter, Warren defended the importance of DEI, quoting Biden administration officials who argued that diversity is essential for maintaining a competitive military. She criticized Hegseth’s previous statements dismissing DEI as detrimental to military effectiveness, including his assertion that “our diversity is our strength” is “the dumbest phrase on planet Earth in the military.”
Warren also addressed Trump’s plan to reverse renaming military bases, such as changing Fort Liberty back to Fort Bragg, and accused Hegseth of aligning with this agenda. She further raised concerns about his opposition to the recommendations of the Biden administration’s Countering Extremist Activity Working Group, which found fewer than 100 cases of extremism in a force of 2.1 million service members before being disbanded.
The letter included dozens of pointed questions, ranging from Hegseth’s views on renaming military property to his stance on service members affiliating with groups like the Proud Boys or Oath Keepers. Warren also recirculated debunked claims about Hegseth’s tattoos and criticized his support for traditional American values, accusing him of promoting “conspiracy theories.”
Hegseth’s support for firing woke generals and holding those responsible for the Afghanistan withdrawal accountable was another point of contention. Warren characterized his defense of service members making split-second decisions in combat as prioritizing military personnel over perceived human rights concerns.
Despite Warren’s sharp critique, Hegseth is expected to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee on January 14. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has indicated that Hegseth likely has enough votes for confirmation, setting the stage for a significant policy shift at the Department of Defense under the incoming Trump administration.
