WASHINGTON, DC (Jan. 24) — Following the Senate’s confirmation vote of Pete Hegseth, by the narrowest margin of any defense secretary, Emily Martin, chief program officer of the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, issued the following statement:
“It is an outrage that all but three Senate Republicans voted to confirm Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense. From credible allegations of sexual assault and a pattern of alcohol abuse on the job, to the reported, well-documented history of denigrating women, including women service members, Hegseth has repeatedly shown he lacks the temperament, experience, and maturity to lead our Armed Forces. His confirmation is not just reckless, it is a deliberate choice by 50 Republican senators to elevate someone who has repeatedly demonstrated that he is wholly unfit for this role.
The speed of his confirmation only underscores how toxic his supporters know he is; they rushed this process to avoid scrutiny, knowing full well the damage he is poised to inflict as a result of their crass political calculation. His leadership in this role poses a direct threat to our national security, and the women, people of color, and LGBTQI+ service members who have fought for greater inclusion in our military—progress that he now threatens to unwind.
But make no mistake: we will not let Hegseth attempt to reshape the military without scrutiny or consequence. The National Women’s Law Center will fight back against the tyranny and misogyny we expect from this administration’s latest disgraceful appointment.”
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