HRC: “Today’s vote does not change that Pete Hegseth must go”

HRC President Kelley Robinson issued the following statement:

"Today's vote does not change that Pete Hegseth must go. He never hid what he wanted: a military that doesn't look like the America it serves. His tenure has been nothing short of a disgrace and a slap in the face to every servicemember who has earned their rank and stripes through dedication, patriotism, and sacrifice. One of the first moves he made was to drive out transgender troops who met every rigorous standard set before them. He fired the first woman to lead the Navy and the second Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs, purged qualified generals he perceived as not loyal enough, and mocked the very people he was charged with leading. He has left our military and national security weaker, and he must go.

"But removing Hegseth is not enough to fix what is broken. His tenure has made painfully clear that the norms our military has long relied on to protect those who serve from discrimination are simply not enough. Congress must pass legislation ensuring that servicemembers are judged on ability and merit, not their race, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity."

Hegseth's repulsive tenure included banning transgender troops from serving, dismantling diversity initiatives, ordering the removal of books and materials referencing anti-racism or gender, putting troops on American streets, using his office to target political opponents, and facilitating an illegal war with Iran.

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is the nation's largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people, with 4 million members and supporters. The HRC Foundation (a 501(c)(3)) works to ensure LGBTQ+ people are safe, seen and supported where it matters most: at school, at work and in every community across the country. From the courtroom to the classroom, from Congress to corporate America, HRC and the HRC Foundation build power through partnerships, storytelling, and action-working to create a future rooted in equity, freedom and belonging for all LGBTQ+ people.