Jun 12, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Congressman tells Hegseth to "get the hell out" of Pentagon in tense hearing

Philip Wang

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth points index finger during a congressional hearing — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testifies during a hearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on June 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. Photo/Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.) told Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to "get the hell out" of the Department of Defense in an explosive exchange during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Thursday.

Why it matters: The congressman grilled Hegseth on a variety of issues, including Marines' deployment to Los Angeles, the Signal chat leak and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

What they're saying: Carbajal, who has served in the Marine Corps Reserve, said during the committee hearing he has "serious concern" regarding the deployment to LA and called it a "political theater."

After Carbajal asked Hegseth if he thought political allegiance to Trump is a requirement for serving in the military, Hegseth replied "Congressman, you know what a silly question that is."
"You're an embarrassment to this country," Carbajal replied. "There's been bipartisan members of Congress that have called for your resignation. You should just get the hell out and let somebody competently lead this department."

Zoom out: Hegseth, along with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Dan Caine, were testifying before the House committee on the Pentagon's Fiscal Year 2026 budget request.

The secretary previously faced tense exchanges in Senate committee hearings from both parties over the Pentagon's delayed budget proposal, the administration's support in Ukraine and Trump's focus on Greenland.
"This is officially the latest budget submission of the modern era," Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said during the hearing.

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Congressman tells Hegseth to "get the hell out" of Pentagon in tense hearing

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