Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Sick.) mentioned the army “couldn’t do its job” with out “the ladies who serve” whereas taking purpose at Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth’s controversial speech concerning the impending revamp of the army below the Trump administration.
“Nicely, that is the least certified secretary of protection in our nation’s historical past, and he’s questioning the flexibility of the ladies who really certified to … to do their jobs,” Duckworth, an Military veteran, mentioned of Hegseth whereas showing on CBS Information’ “Face the Nation” Sunday. “The feminine rangers, the females that graduated from SEAL faculty, have met these highest requirements.”
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 attempting to “push girls out of the army.”
“He has lengthy sought to push girls out of the army. And, frankly, our army couldn’t do its job of defending America and retaining us protected with out the ladies who serve within the army,” she mentioned.
Hegseth has faced criticism for emphasizing gender-neutral health requirements for fight jobs.
Joined by Trump whereas speaking with hundreds of senior U.S. military officials in Quantico, Virginia, final week, Hegseth mentioned it was necessary that sure fight positions return “to the best male normal.”
He identified that the usual may result in fewer girls serving in fight roles earlier than declaring, “If which means no girls qualify for some fight jobs, so be it. That isn’t the intent, however it may very well be the end result.”
“I don’t need my son serving alongside troops who’re out of practice, or in fight models with females who can’t meet the identical fight arms bodily requirements as males,” Hegseth added throughout his speech on Sep. 30.
Elsewhere in his speech, Hegseth additionally railed towards “fats generals and admirals.”
“Frankly, it’s tiring to look out at fight formations, or actually any formation, and see fats troops,” he mentioned. “Likewise, it’s utterly unacceptable to see fats generals and admirals within the halls of the Pentagon main instructions across the nation and the world.”
Hegseth added, “It’s a foul look. It’s unhealthy, and it’s not who we’re.”
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), a Marine veteran, known as Hegseth a “laughing stock” following his speech.
“He is aware of that throughout the Division of Protection, folks assume he’s a laughing inventory and that he’s in all probability one of many worst secretary of defenses this nation has had,” he advised “State of the Union” host Jake Tapper on Sunday. “I feel he’s attempting to exert his energy over a few of these generals, however it’s not going to assist when he’s clearly method out of his league.”
