Moulton Slams Defense Secretary Hegseth for "Incompetence" and Dangerous War Orders in Iran Conflict

During his first testimony since the outbreak of the 60-day war with Iran, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth faced sharp criticism from Congressman Seth Moulton (MA-06) at a House Armed Services Committee hearing in Washington, D.C. Moulton did not hold back, calling out Hegseth for what he described as “pure incompetence” that is causing the United States to lose the conflict.

Moulton’s blistering remarks centered on three key failures. First, he highlighted Hegseth’s controversial “No Quarter” orders—commands that explicitly reject the Geneva Conventions by refusing to take prisoners. Such directives not only violate international law but also risk war crimes charges. Second, Moulton criticized the firing of seasoned generals, a move he implied has weakened U.S. military leadership at a critical time. Finally, the congressman condemned Hegseth’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget, which would saddle the average taxpayer with an additional $600 bill, all while the administration slashes funding for SNAP benefits and healthcare subsidies.

“As things stand today, we are losing this war because of Secretary Hegseth’s pure incompetence,” Moulton said bluntly. “This isn’t leadership; it’s an unserious circus.” He urged Hegseth to stop making reckless and dangerous distractions and instead focus on ending the war that the administration is mishandling.

This confrontation exposes the broader pattern of mismanagement and disregard for legal norms within the Trump administration’s handling of military conflicts. The aggressive posture toward Iran, combined with reckless budgeting that prioritizes military spending over essential social programs, underscores the administration’s dangerous and shortsighted approach.

Watch the full exchange here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00ZTVA7SaT4

Source: https://moulton.house.gov/news/press-releases/moulton-confronts-defense-secretary-pete-hegseth-over-incompetence-and