Overview
- A 30-inch floor globe linked to Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower was dropped during an attempted move, creating a several-inch puncture near Antarctica and detaching the sphere from its metal mounting.
- The Army confirmed the damage occurred on Feb. 3 and said the globe was not moved after the mishap while it consults experts on whether it can be safely repaired or relocated.
- The office that keeps the globe had planned to use trained curators, but the Army Center of Military History historians were furloughed during a partial shutdown and Hegseth’s staff sent its own movers.
- Pentagon officials declined the Washington Post’s request to inspect or photograph the object, though the Post independently obtained images; Hegseth’s office did not respond to questions about who ordered the move.
- Inside the building the incident has drawn derision and raised questions about adherence to preservation protocols, and the Army’s consults will determine whether restoration is possible and how similar artifacts will be handled going forward.