Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., says Pete Hegseth should not be running the Department of War, telling Fox News Digital that the defense secretary’s personal conduct and handling of a sensitive leak controversy raise questions about his judgment.
“I don’t think he was a good choice to begin with,” Bacon said. “I wouldn’t have voted to confirm him.”
Bacon, a 30-year Air Force veteran who retired as a one-star general, said Hegseth’s behavior would have drawn discipline for any other service member. “Anybody that got caught having affairs would’ve gotten fired,” he said, before turning to the fallout from the administration’s use of the Signal messaging app to discuss sensitive military operations.
“He didn’t take any responsibility for it, though it was his fault,” Bacon said. “And things like that bother folks who’ve served a lifetime in the military, have a moral compass and take responsibility.”
Bacon’s comments came after Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday’s midterm elections, a shift that could open the door to impeachment proceedings against members of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet in the next Congress. A group of House Democrats, led by Rep. Shri Thanedar of Michigan, already backed legislation to impeach Hegseth during the 119th Congress. Separately, Republican Rep. Thomas Massie has introduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth, and GOP Sen. Thom Tillis has urged Trump to replace him.
Asked whether Trump should remove Hegseth before any impeachment push gains traction, Bacon said the secretary has little goodwill left on Capitol Hill. “Hegseth doesn’t have a lot of friends on the Hill,” he said. “I do think we could have more qualified leaders.”
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell pushed back in a statement to Fox News Digital, saying Hegseth “will not back down” or “be deterred by politicians seeking to score partisan points or launch phony investigations where no wrongdoing exists.” Without naming Bacon, Parnell said Hegseth “will continue to stand and fight every single day to support and defend the Constitution, lead our troops, and protect America” and is “100% committed to leading the Department until the end of President Trump’s term in office.”
Trump told reporters Wednesday he intends to keep Hegseth in the Cabinet, despite the speculation. The comment follows other departures from Trump’s Cabinet this term, including former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi, both of whom were asked to resign.
A Party Reckoning
Bacon also used the interview to argue that Republicans need to chart a course independent of Trump if they want to win back congressional majorities, governorships, and the White House in 2028. He said he has not ruled out a presidential run of his own, something he has previously told podcast interviewers he would “love” to do.
“I do think we should have a big debate in our party,” Bacon said. “I’d like to fight for the soul of our party. And I want to be a part of that discussion, that debate.”
He said Republicans should return to principles he associated with Ronald Reagan — “economic freedom, free markets and free trade, peace through strength, stand up to the bully, which in this case, is Russia” — along with federalism and the pro-life movement.
Bacon was critical of the administration’s dealings with longtime allies, saying it has been “very bad towards our allies,” citing tensions with Canada over tariffs and Trump’s comments about Greenland. He argued that foreign policy missteps and military entanglements overseas hurt Republicans in down-ballot races this week.
“They only got beat because they had an R next to their name,” Bacon said, accusing congressional Republicans of having “rubber-stamped” the president’s agenda since he returned to office.
Did you speak out against Biden’s choice of Secretary of War? He was so irrelevant that no one even noticed he was not in his office for a month. I think Hegseth is doing a good job and has make joining the military much more appealing to our young citizens. Serving in the military is an honor and courageous.
Don Bacon is a well known by Nebraskans as a RINO. So he doesnt convince anyone.