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Defense Secretary Hegseth Faces Calls for Resignation After Controversial Quantico Meeting; Vance Offers Support
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing mounting calls for his resignation following a contentious meeting at Marine Corps Base Quantico on Tuesday, where he declared an end to “woke” culture within the military. Despite widespread criticism and concerns about the unusual nature of the gathering, Senator J.D. Vance has reportedly remained a steadfast ally, shielding Hegseth from efforts to remove him.
At the Quantico meeting, Secretary Hegseth asserted that too many military leaders have been promoted for what he termed “the wrong reasons,” citing race, gender quotas, and “historic firsts.” He announced a new direction for the armed forces, stating, “The era of politically correct, overly sensitive don’t-hurt-anyone’s-feelings leadership ends right now at every level.” Hegseth further indicated plans to loosen disciplinary rules and weaken protections against hazing.
While the Defense Secretary may have hoped his address would serve as a rallying cry, many attendees and observers reportedly found the meeting awkward and unproductive. Despite this, Hegseth continues to hold his position within the administration, largely due to Vice President Vance’s protective influence.
Daily Mail reporter Mark Halperin indicated that Vance, a key ally, has “shielded Hegseth from concerted ouster efforts.” Halperin noted a sentiment within the defense community that it is often more practical to negotiate with an existing, albeit imperfect, secretary than to endure a sudden vacancy in Pentagon leadership.
Hegseth’s personal popularity, even among those who perceive him as “in over his head,” was also cited as a factor in his continued tenure in one of the nation’s most consequential roles.
The abrupt nature and sheer scale of the Quantico meeting have also drawn considerable scrutiny. Experts, including Mark Cancian, a senior adviser with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, described the gathering of a large number of generals on such short notice and in person as particularly unusual.
“What’s mystifying is why it’s on such short notice, why it’s in person, and what else might be involved,” Cancian remarked. Michael O’Hanlon of the Brookings Institution echoed these concerns, suggesting that the meeting’s scale made meaningful interaction unlikely, leading it to “smack more of theatrics or of trying to impose than of trying to exchange views.”
The meeting occurred amidst the first day of a federal government shutdown, adding another layer of complexity to the situation. Secretary Hegseth has recently focused on promoting what he calls the “warrior ethos,” advocating for a more aggressive and lethal stance within the military. Senator Vance, however, dismissed media coverage of the event, criticizing it for turning the meeting into a “big story” and asserting that it was “not particularly unusual that generals who report to” Hegseth would meet with him.
As the controversy continues, Hegseth’s detractors, forced to contend with the ongoing fallout, warn that each successive crisis threatens to erode the cohesion of the Pentagon. Conversely, his allies maintain that Hegseth is “salvageable” and requires guidance and steadiness rather than removal from his post.