Rep. Don Bacon Says Hegseth’s Credibility Is Ruined, Pointing to Signalgate and Disputed Pentagon Policies

Overview

• On C-SPAN, Bacon said he has seen enough of Hegseth’s leadership and accused him of poor judgment on multiple fronts.
• Bacon highlighted an Inspector General report that found no classified breach due to declassification authority but cited security‑protocol violations involving highly sensitive details on an unsecured app.
• He criticized new Pentagon press rules that pushed legacy outlets out of the building, alleging they were replaced by “second‑rate journalists.”
• Bacon said Hegseth’s stance on Ukraine’s NATO prospects undermines allied trust, and he warned that recent decisions could harm U.S. interests for years.
• He raised oversight concerns about lethal strikes on alleged drug traffickers that reportedly killed more than 80 people, while saying he does not believe Hegseth issued a “kill‑all” order.