Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-In poor health.) mentioned the army “could not do its job” with out “the women who serve” whereas taking goal at Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth’s controversial speech in regards to the impending revamp of the army below the Trump administration.
“Well, this is the least qualified secretary of defense in our nation’s history, and he’s questioning the ability of the women who actually qualified to … to do their jobs,” Duckworth, an Military veteran, mentioned of Hegseth whereas showing on CBS Information’ “Face the Nation” Sunday. “The female rangers, the females that graduated from SEAL school, have met those highest standards.”
Duckworth, who misplaced her legs and partial use of her proper arm when an RPG hit her Black Hawk helicopter in Iraq in 2004, accused Hegseth of making an attempt to “push women out of the military.”
“He has long sought to push women out of the military. And, frankly, our military could not do its job of protecting America and keeping us safe without the women who serve in the military,” she mentioned.
Hegseth has confronted criticism for emphasizing gender impartial health requirements for fight jobs.
Joined by Trump whereas talking with a whole bunch of senior U.S. army officers in Quantico, Virginia, final week, Hegseth mentioned it was essential that sure fight positions return “to the highest male standard.”
He identified that the usual may result in fewer girls serving in fight roles earlier than declaring, “If that means no women qualify for some combat jobs, so be it. That is not the intent, but it could be the result.”
“I don’t want my son serving alongside troops who are out of shape, or in combat units with females who can’t meet the same combat arms physical standards as men,” Hegseth added throughout his speech on Sep. 30.
Elsewhere in his speech, he additionally railed in opposition to “fat generals and admirals.”
“Frankly, it’s tiring to look out at combat formations, or really any formation, and see fat troops,” Hegseth mentioned. “Likewise, it’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon leading commands around the country and the world.”
He added, “It’s a bad look. It is bad, and it’s not who we are.”
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), a Marine veteran, known as Hegseth a “laughing stock” following his speech.
“He knows that within the Department of Defense, people think he’s a laughing stock and that he is probably one of the worst secretary of defenses this country has had,” he advised “State of the Union” host Jake Tapper on Sunday. “I think he’s trying to exert his power over some of these generals, but it’s not going to help when he is clearly way out of his league.”
