Pete Hegseth

Conditions aboard USS Lincoln 'exacerbated by decision to start Iran war,' senators tell Hegseth

Criticizing Hegseth and US President Donald Trump for dismissing the reports, the senators argued that the situation on Lincoln was "preventable" and similar to issues USS Gerald R. Ford faced.

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) conducts US blockade operations related to the Strait of Hormuz on April 16, 2026.
US President Donald Trump arrives to deliver remarks at the David S. Mack Center for Training and Intelligence on August 14, 2026 in Garden City, New York.

Trump, Hegseth deny concerns of poor conditions, low morale reported aboard USS Abraham Lincoln

An MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted drone aircraft performs aerial maneuvers over Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, US, June 25, 2015.

US lost 45 Reaper drones in Iran war, raising supply concerns for future hostilities - report

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) sails alongside the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

CENTCOM refutes reports of sailors jumping from USS Lincoln as conditions aboard face scrutiny


Pentagon's Hegseth defends Iran war against Congress, says not a quagmire

"Don't say: 'I support the troops' on one hand, and then a two-month mission is a quagmire," Hegseth told the congressman during his address.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth holds a briefing on the Iran war, amid a ceasefire between the US and Iran, at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, US, April 24, 2026.

Pentagon faces scrutiny over lack of details on Minab girls' school strike in Iran

The strike took place on February 28, at the beginning of Operation Epic Fury. A missile hit a primary school, killing 168 people, including around 110 children, according to Iranian officials.

FILE PHOTO: People and rescue forces work following an Israel strike on a school in Minab, Iran, February 28, 2026.

Pentagon may be understating severity of US missile stockpile shortage - report

The Atlantic reported that Vice President Vance has discussed the issue with Trump, noting that a weapons shortage would be extremely detrimental to American interests.

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) fires a Tomahawk land attack missile in support of Operation Epic Fury, on March 1, 2026 at Sea.

Trump administration officials are quoting the Bible, is it good for the Jews? - opinion

“President Trump has a complicated relationship with the Bible,” The New York Times said of Trump's likely participation in a marathon reading of scripture to take place in Washington, D.C.

President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast, Feb. 5, 2026, at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C.

Hundreds of Google employees urge CEO not to sign deal with Pentagon in open letter

The letter stated that the signatories feel their “proximity to this technology creates a responsibility to highlight and prevent its most unethical and dangerous uses.”

Google Gemini

Iran continuing to lay mines in Strait of Hormuz, US official says

In response to Iran placing mines around the Strait, which experts believe are fewer than 100, US President Donald Trump ordered the Navy to "shoot and kill any boat" suspected of doing so.

Drone view of oil tanker HELGA berthed at one of Iraq's southern offshore oil terminals near Basra as it prepares to load crude oil, becoming the second vessel to arrive since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, April 24, 2026

Pentagon chief Hegseth says US blockade on Iran 'going global'

Hegseth added that Tehran had a chance to make a "good deal" with Washington.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth holds a briefing on the Iran war, amid a ceasefire between the US and Iran, at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, US, April 24, 2026.

US Navy Secretary John Phelan fired amid Pentagon shakeup

The Pentagon announced his departure in a brief statement, saying he was leaving the administration "effective immediately." But it did not provide a reason or say whether it was his decision to go.

John Phelan, United States Secretary of the Navy, looks on before the game between the Washington Commanders and the Chicago Bears at Northwest Stadium on October 13, 2025 in Landover Maryland.

Senator Lindsey Graham speaks to Trump, Hegseth on 'way forward' in Iran conflict

The South Carolina Republican described the discussion's focus as "the way forward regarding the Iran conflict," while also warning countries against assisting Iran's oil distribution efforts.

US Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), the Chairman of the Senate Budget Commission speaks during a Senate Committee on the Budget hearing to examine the President's fiscal year 2027 budget proposal in Capitol Hill on April 16, 2026 in Washington, DC.

Pete Hegseth compares media to Pharisees, ancient Jewish sect derided by Christians

Hegseth's comments follow a similar incident in 2019, when then-Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg compared Mike Pence to the Pharisees.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on April 16, 2026.