Secretary of War Pete Hegseth

The $1.5 trillion investment is a GENERATIONAL DOWN PAYMENT on America’s national defense. This investment guarantees the United States maintains overwhelming strength and unmatched deterrence against any adversary for generations to come.

Today, I am convening a special review panel to conduct a comprehensive, long-term, department-wide review of every aspect of the military legal system impacting our servicemembers. This panel will enhance trust, strengthen our force, drive real reform, and help ensure our warfighters receive the world-class military legal system they deserve.

Today, I welcomed the Republic of Korea’s Minister of National Defense, Ahn Gyu-back, to the Pentagon. We reaffirmed the strength of the alliance and discussed readiness, posture, and shared responsibility for collective defense.

A nation worth fighting for is a nation worth praying for. Rededicate 250 on Sunday, May 17, will bring patriots from every state together on the National Mall under one flag and one God. RSVP for Sunday, May 17, in Washington, DC: f250.digital/pray

The Biden administration’s experimental COVID-19 vaccine mandate was wrongfully forced onto our warfighters. It was unjust, and we are doing EVERYTHING we can to make it right.

The @DeptofWar is in lockstep with President Trump to bring unprecedented transparency regarding our government’s understanding of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena. These files, hidden behind classifications, have long fueled justified speculation — and it’s time the American people see it for themselves. This release of declassified documents demonstrates the Trump Administration’s earnest commitment to unprecedented transparency.

Thanks to President Trump’s $1.5 trillion defense budget, this War Department has moved from bureaucracy to business. This is a FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT in our Arsenal of Freedom—ensuring our military remains the most lethal fighting force in the world.

These four men chose the honor of representing the @NavalAcademy on the football field — now Landon Robinson and Eli Heidenreich carry that legacy into the NFL. Keep making us proud.

Today, I was honored to host the Gold Star Advisory Council. We remain steadfast in honoring the memory of our fallen service members and ensuring their families are never forgotten or left behind.

Maj. Ryan Reynolds and Maj. Edwin Stanfield exemplify the very best of our nation. On November 26, 2025, they showed extraordinary courage when Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe were attacked in Washington, D.C. We honor their service. 🇺🇸

If you can build fast and deliver at speed—the Department of War is ready to do business. wsj.com/business/defen…

Under the previous administration, the Department of Defense’s financial reporting was a disaster — and had been for far too long. That ends today—the WAR DEPARTMENT will deliver a clean audit for our 2028 financial statements.

Joined my friend @KidRock — and some of our great @USArmy Apache pilots — for a ride this morning. (More to come on that!) Kid Rock is a patriot and huge supporter of our troops. The War Department is wasting no time celebrating America’s 250th — home of the free because of the brave.

JUST ANNOUNCED: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is set to speak at Rededicate 250. May 17 • 8 AM ET • National Mall Join Americans from every state to give thanks for 250 years, pray for the future, and rededicate our nation as One Nation under God. RSVP for this once-in-a-lifetime moment! 🇺🇸

The War Department is once again restoring freedom to our Joint Force. We are discarding the mandatory flu vaccine requirement, effective immediately.

I welcomed ten American Olympians—who also wear the uniform—to the Pentagon today. They represent the very best of our nation.

STATEMENT: The Afghanistan Withdrawal Special Review Panel has completed the substantive phase of its interviews with senior military and civilian leaders.
 
This Panel was established by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at the direction of President Donald J. Trump to conduct the most comprehensive military after action review in modern history. We have now interviewed key figures involved in the planning and execution of the withdrawal, including: ▪General David H. Berger, USMC (Ret.), former Commandant of the Marine Corps; ▪General Christopher T. Donahue, USA, former Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division, current commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa; ▪General Alexus G. Grynkewich, USAF, former U.S. Central Command Operations Officer, current Supreme Allied Commander of Europe; ▪General Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr., USMC (Ret.), former Commander, U.S. Central Command; ▪General Austin S. Miller, USA (Ret.), former Commander, U.S. Forces–Afghanistan and NATO Resolute Support Mission; ▪General Mark A. Milley, USA (Ret.), former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; ▪General James J. Mingus, USA (Ret.), former Joint Chiefs Director of Operations; ▪Lieutenant General Carl E. Mundy, III, USMC (Ret.), former MARCENT Commander; ▪Lieutenant General Paul J. Rock, Jr., former MARCENT Commander, current Director of the Marine Corps Staff; ▪Lieutenant General Ricky L. Waddell, USA (Ret.), former Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Senior Military Advisor to the Secretary of State; ▪Rear Admiral Peter G. Vasely (Ret.), USN, former Commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistan – Forward at HKIA; ▪Major General Julian C. Cheater, USAF, former Over the Horizon-Counter Terrorism Operations (OTH-CT) Commander, current Director of Strategy, Policy and Plans, U.S. Southern Command; ▪Major General Derek J. O'Malley, USAF, former Commander 455th AEW, former Commander of Bagram Airfield, current Director of the Department of War Special Access Program Central Office; ▪Major General Farrell J. Sullivan, USMC, former commander of Joint Task Force–Crisis Response (JTF-CR), current Commanding General, 2nd Marine Division; and dozens of other senior officers and officials and interagency partners. In addition to these interviews, the Panel has reviewed more than NINE MILLION documents drawn from multiple agencies and prior Department of Defense efforts. By contrast, the previous Department-wide review commissioned under former Secretary Lloyd Austin examined around 3,000 documents and was significantly narrower in scope. The Secretary Austin-led effort was also over-classified at the highest levels, which effectively kept the most critical and relevant information from public scrutiny. This will be the most thorough, transparent, and honest accounting the American people have received of what happened in August 2021. We are executing at the direction of President Trump and Secretary Hegseth to deliver a full and unflinching examination of the systemic, institutional, and leadership factors that contributed to the collapse. Our purpose is to identify failures in decision-making so that we may prevent the United States from ever repeating this tragedy. It is our duty to ensure that the greatest military on Earth is accountable to the American people. Our work continues. We are now integrating the massive documentary record, cross-referencing prior reviews, and preparing our findings and recommendations. The final report will be delivered to the Secretary of War and the American people in the coming months.