Pete Hegseth on Department of War

Pete Hegseth currently serves as the Secretary of War, a role he assumed on January 25, 2025, before the department name officially changed on September 5, 2025. He views the Department of War as the instrument for executing the President's will decisively, particularly in military conflicts such as Operation Epic Fury against Iran. In this capacity, he asserts that he and the President have granted warfighters bold rules of engagement designed to unleash American power to win without reservation, focusing on objectives like obliterating missile capabilities and annihilating the enemy’s navy.

He emphasizes that the department’s mission is laser-focused on achieving specific effects, such as ensuring Iran never possesses a nuclear weapon, contrasting this approach with prior administrations' use of vague red lines. Hegseth stresses the joint efforts with allies, such as the Israeli Defense Forces, as a major force multiplier in achieving overwhelming results quickly. Furthermore, he highlights the department's extensive defensive posture, noting that over 90 percent of American troops were moved out of range before offensive operations began, ensuring maximum force protection.