Remove Pete Hegseth: The Pentagon Must Serve the Constitution, Not a Political Party

President Donald J. Trump
Leadership of the United States House of Representatives and Senate
House Armed Services Committee
Senate Armed Services Committee

At a recent campaign event supporting Republican Congressman Glenn Grothman, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth used the platform and authority of his office to promote partisan politics, disparage transgender Americans—including people who have worn our nation’s uniform—and turn military policy into campaign rhetoric.

That crosses a dangerous line.

My name is Eric R. Rinehart. I am a U.S. citizen, an Air Force veteran, and a resident of North Carolina.

When I served, I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. That oath was not to a president, political party, or ideology.

The Department of Defense belongs to the American people. It cannot become a campaign operation for one political movement.

POLITICIZING THE PENTAGON
The Secretary of Defense is responsible for leading the entire military. Hegseth used defense policy and the prestige of his office to support a partisan campaign. Civilian control of the military must never become partisan control of the military.

DISPARAGING AMERICANS WHO SERVE
Every qualified American who volunteers to defend this country deserves dignity from the person entrusted to lead the Department of Defense. Service members cannot become political targets, campaign props, or punchlines.

RECKLESS DEFENSE DOCTRINE
Hegseth declared that “process is not a result” and treated redundancy as waste.

As an Air Force veteran, I know better.

Process provides testing, competition, accountability, safety, legal compliance, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

Redundancy is not waste. Redundancy preserves the mission when equipment, communications, supply chains, or personnel fail.

THE “WARTIME FOOTING” CONTRADICTION
The Trump administration repeatedly promised peace and an end to endless wars. Hegseth is now directing defense contractors to “pivot to a wartime footing.”

The American people deserve a clear explanation of what threat, strategy, authorization, and national objective justify that declaration.

LEADERSHIP UNWORTHY OF THE OFFICE
The Secretary of Defense must possess the judgment, discipline, integrity, and temperament required to lead every branch of the United States military.

Pete Hegseth has demonstrated that he does not.

WHAT WE ARE DEMANDING
We call upon President Donald J. Trump to remove Pete Hegseth immediately as Secretary of Defense.

We call upon the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to open a public investigation into:
• His use of the office for partisan political activity
• His conduct toward transgender service members and veterans
• His defense-acquisition and readiness directives
• His call for the defense industry to adopt a “wartime footing”
• His stewardship of military personnel, institutions, and taxpayer resources

The Pentagon must serve the Constitution and the American people—not one man and not one political party.

Our service members deserve leadership worthy of their oath and sacrifice.

Pete Hegseth is not that leader.

Sign and share this petition if you believe he must be removed.