LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nevada, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth got into a heated exchange during a congressional hearing Wednesday.
With Hegseth on Capitol Hill to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Rosen asked him if he had spoken with Laura Loomer about dismissing General Timothy D. Haugh from his roles as director of the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command.
Loomer, a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, has spread several conspiracy theories over the years, including about the Las Vegas mass shooting.
“Well, Senator, I would not advise believing everything you read in the media,” Hegseth said.
The two began to talk over each other, with Hegseth calling himself the “decision-maker for the department” and Rosen calling his response “alarming.”
Rosen later asked again if he spoke with Loomer about Haugh’s dismissal.
“I don’t discuss who I talk about anything with, but ultimately this is my decision, and we serve at the pleasure of the president and that’s why he’s no longer there,” the defense secretary said.
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“So do you believe it’s appropriate for any social media personality to influence personnel decisions in your department, yes or no?” Rosen followed.
“Uh, I believe your time is up, senator,” Hegseth said.
“Oh, it is not up to you to tell me when my time is up,” Rosen said. “And I am going to say, Mr. Secretary, you are either feckless or complicit. You’re not in control of your department. Yours is unserious. It is shocking you’re not combating antisemitism within your ranks. It’s a dangerous and pivotal time in our nation’s history.”
As Rosen yielded back her time, she left Hegseth with one more comment: “And I don’t appreciate the smirk, sir. You are the Secretary of Defense.”
Loomer shared a clip of the exchange on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Democrats are very angry their Obama and Biden holdovers at NSA and NSC were identified and FIRED,” Loomer wrote. “They have dreams about ways they can weaponize our intelligence agencies against President Trump and his base.”