RepublicanUnited States · Secretary of Defense
Pete
Hegseth
Secretary of Defense for United States
In office
1 yrsSince Jan 2025
Next election
—Re-elected 2023
Age
45Born Jun 6, 1980
Party
Republican
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01 · Background
Who they are, where they came from
Pete Hegseth serves as the 29th United States Secretary of Defense, assuming the role on January 24, 2025. The Trump administration has referred to this role as 'Secretary of War' in official communications, though the statutory title under 10 USC § 113 is Secretary of Defense. Born June 6, 1980, Hegseth previously worked as a television personality before his appointment to lead the Department of Defense.
Every claim on this page links to a public source. We don’t tell you whether Pete Hegseth is a good or bad official— that’s your call. We just make the facts easy to find.