The Department of Defense under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is "dysfunctional" and causing "active harm," according to former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall III. Kendall, who served in the Biden administration, shared his assessment in an interview with CNN's Kaitlan Collins.
"This secretary — and I’ve worked with and had a chance to work for maybe a dozen secretaries of Defense — he’s doing active harm to the Department of Defense," Kendall stated. "It’s not passive. It’s active harm."
Kendall pointed to a "climate of fear" and a "witch hunt" targeting individuals perceived as "woke" as contributing factors to the challenging work environment. He argued that this atmosphere discourages open communication and creates significant difficulties for those within the department.
"It’s not good for the country," Kendall added. He expressed concern that active service members are now "questioning whether they should remain in the service or not, continue to serve their country because of the climate they’re working in."
Kendall warned that if this management style continues for the remainder of a potential four-year term, the effects could be "incredibly debilitating and destructive."