Pete Hegseth

It's an infection that the American people are acutely aware of, which the men and women in this room have lived firsthand. I've lived it firsthand. And that's why it will be a priority. And I truly believe, and I'm humbled by this, The response we've already seen from young men and women who've decided to join the military when they had said, I wasn't going to.

But seeing a commander-in-chief, Donald Trump, reassured them. Seeing the possibility, if confirmed, of a secretary of defense that would have their back reassured them. And so in the first couple of months after President Trump...

But seeing a commander-in-chief, Donald Trump, reassured them. Seeing the possibility, if confirmed, of a secretary of defense that would have their back reassured them. And so in the first couple of months after President Trump...

Senator, that's a very important conversation, one that I've been looking at a great deal. A lot of it, just to be clear, involves classifications and understanding precisely cost and capabilities, including capabilities of enemy systems, both not just fourth and fifth, but potential sixth generation, which we've already seen a prototype released from the Chinese.

Senator, that's a very important conversation, one that I've been looking at a great deal. A lot of it, just to be clear, involves classifications and understanding precisely cost and capabilities, including capabilities of enemy systems, both not just fourth and fifth, but potential sixth generation, which we've already seen a prototype released from the Chinese.

That's a dangerous development considering at least the publicly understood condition of NGAD, which I look forward to the opportunity to looking underneath the hood on that. But ensuring fourth and fifth are capable and upgraded as necessary will be a part of our contingency.

That's a dangerous development considering at least the publicly understood condition of NGAD, which I look forward to the opportunity to looking underneath the hood on that. But ensuring fourth and fifth are capable and upgraded as necessary will be a part of our contingency.

But when you look at what's happening in the Indo-Pacific, say operability range is going to matter because it's such a large battle space, that will all factor in decisions that are made. And that's where I feel, frankly, a little bit liberated. is that I didn't work at Lockheed or any number of, pick a defense contractor. I didn't mean to point one out in particular. Pick any. I haven't.

But when you look at what's happening in the Indo-Pacific, say operability range is going to matter because it's such a large battle space, that will all factor in decisions that are made. And that's where I feel, frankly, a little bit liberated. is that I didn't work at Lockheed or any number of, pick a defense contractor. I didn't mean to point one out in particular. Pick any. I haven't.

I don't have a special interest in any particular system or any particular company or any particular narrative. I want to know what works. I want to know what defeats our enemies, what keeps us safe, what deters them, what keeps our enemies up at night. Whatever that is, I want more of it. And I want to invest in it. And I know that's the view that President Trump has as well.

I don't have a special interest in any particular system or any particular company or any particular narrative. I want to know what works. I want to know what defeats our enemies, what keeps us safe, what deters them, what keeps our enemies up at night. Whatever that is, I want more of it. And I want to invest in it. And I know that's the view that President Trump has as well.

I look forward to working with you on that, Senator, because unmanned will be a very important part of the way future wars are fought. Just the idea of survivability for a human being drives cost and time in ways that unmanned systems do not. But I look forward to that conversation, Senator.

I look forward to working with you on that, Senator, because unmanned will be a very important part of the way future wars are fought. Just the idea of survivability for a human being drives cost and time in ways that unmanned systems do not. But I look forward to that conversation, Senator.

Senator, veterans deserve the benefits they've earned. I have... been in many battles with traditional veterans organizations over differences of opinion about how to deliver those services, including veterans choice.

Senator, veterans deserve the benefits they've earned. I have... been in many battles with traditional veterans organizations over differences of opinion about how to deliver those services, including veterans choice.

VSOs is a very broad term. We were a VSO also, ma'am. But some of those services took a traditionally bureaucratic approach.

VSOs is a very broad term. We were a VSO also, ma'am. But some of those services took a traditionally bureaucratic approach.

Senator, I think we should be ashamed as a nation of the amount of veterans that commit suicide because they hit a brick wall. They commit suicide because they hit a brick wall of the bureaucracy of the VA. And the reformers are not courage enough.

Senator, I think we should be ashamed as a nation of the amount of veterans that commit suicide because they hit a brick wall. They commit suicide because they hit a brick wall of the bureaucracy of the VA. And the reformers are not courage enough.

Senator, with all due humility, I don't know that there's anyone in this room over the last 20 years that have worked harder to ensure that our veterans are taken care of. It has been a passion of my life alongside with so many on this dais to make sure that veterans receive, and it is a recruiting crisis.