Stiff interrogation awaits Hegseth in Capitol Hill hearings; live updates
WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will face questions from Congress for the first time since he took over at the Pentagon. Several Capitol Hill hearings, beginning on June 10, promise clashes with Democratic lawmakers and confrontations over his leaked Signal messages, his war on DEI, the recent deployment of troops to Los Angeles protests and the costly military parade set for June 14 in Washington, D.C.
More: Not that Benning: Hegseth renames Fort Moore, but not for Confederate general, he says
Hegseth, a former Fox News host, last faced down Senators during his confirmation hearing in January, when senators on the Armed Services Committee grilled him over reports of his heavy drinking and a sexual assault allegation and his views that women should not serve in combat roles.
After nearly six months of Hegseth running the Pentagon, lawmakers have more fodder for questions, including Hegseth's overturning of military diversity initiatives and firing of high-ranking women, his use of Signal to message Yemen attack plans, and the announcement a day earlier that 700 Marines will go to Los Angeles to quell protests over deportations.
Hegseth will testify alongside Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. His first hearing, at the House Appropriations Committee, begins on June 10 at 9:30 a.m. It's a budget hearing, but sparks could fly given all that's happened in recent weeks.
More: Trump's getting his military parade. Here's what they look like from France to Russia
Follow along for a playback of what's going on at the hearing.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hegseth set to face stiff interrogation on Capitol Hill; live updates
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