What’s the Secretary of Defense got to do with Kids, Anyway?
The Impact of Hegseth's Confirmation as Trump's Defense Secretary Will Have Lasting Impacts on Children Globally
It’s not hyperbole to say that the world is facing serious geopolitical challenges. The War of Russian Aggression in Ukraine, The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, the rise of Authoritarianism and erosion of Democracy, nuclear proliferation, and cybersecurity threats to name a few. Most people probably don’t immediately think about children and the impact these issues will have on them and future generations, not just in the United States, but abroad. But they should.
The Secretary of Defense is arguably one of the most important and consequential cabinet positions, especially at this historic inflection point. Trump’s nomination of Pete Hegseth was meant to be an unserious and controversial pick. Just like all the others. Trump is a disruptor in all of the worst ways. Similar to Trump, Hegseth paid a financial settlement to a woman who accused him of raping her in 2017. Because you know, birds of a feather. Hegseth’s professional background that Trump believes qualifies him to be Secretary of Defense, you ask? National Guardsman. Fox News Contributor. Executive Director of Vets for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America. Did I mention that in his role as Executive Director for these organizations he wasn’t even able to manage a budget of $10M? How in the hell can this man be trusted to manage a budget of $800B? Who else declared bankruptcy (multiple times) because they, too, were incapable of managing a budget? Trump. Again, birds of a feather.
I digress. How would his confirmation impact children? Let me tell you.
Hegseth has not shied away from his prioritization of militarization over diplomacy. A Defense Secretary should always, ALWAYS prioritize peaceful conflict resolution over military escalation. Any emphasis on militarization undermines efforts for peaceful conflict resolution. And the impact on children? DEVASTATING. Children bear the brunt of violent conflict. Kids in conflict zones are at a much higher risk of being killed or displaced, obviously. Military conflict exacerbates humanitarian crises and leads to greater instability for future generations globally.
The budgetary consequences of Hegseth’s confirmation on children? CATASTROPHIC. The proposed budget for 2025 for the DoD? ~$850B. The United States spends more on military spending than any other country in the world (by multiples) and accounts for nearly 40% of global military spending. Increased military spending means cuts to social programs that children rely on, like healthcare, education, and child welfare. This directly harms children, particularly those who are already at a disadvantage and rely on these programs.
The psychological impacts (admittedly, I am not a doctor) of normalizing a militaristic “war” culture cannot be healthy for children. But I’ll leave the expertise on that topic up to Dr.
and Dr. . I will say this: children growing up in an environment where a militaristic approach is normalized and often prioritized over diplomacy seem like they would be predisposed to viewing violence as an acceptable solution to other problems. Again, I’m not an expert, but I think that sounds about right. Hell, even violent video games have been linked to increased aggressive behavior. So yea, I’m right.So, what makes Hegseth suitable to run the world’s most powerful and lethal military force? Nothing. Absolutely, f*****g nothing. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “the ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children.” America was once a beacon of leadership on this front. But now we are failing. We cannot risk compromising children’s futures. Children all over the world deserve better.
The Clockwork Shadow: An Energy of Secretary Lament based on Chris White (Trump’s pick)
Beneath the veil of state design,
A specter stirs through covert line,
Chris White ascends, a cipher’s guise,
His polished mask but cloaked disguise.
At BlackHydra’s throne of oil and fire,
He forged his path, his dark empire.
Through Arctic chills to Amazon’s breath,
His trade was plunder, his yield was death.
In whispers deep, they spin the tale,
Of deregulation’s wicked gale.
Methane loosed, green laws undone,
A race toward a scorched earth run.
The “clean coal” ruse, a fleeting gleam,
A Trojan horse within the scheme.
Geoengineering tempts the sky,
While truths of science he’ll deny.
A technocrat? A puppeteer,
Embedding pawns year after year.
He binds the watchdog, dulls the blade,
In Kafka’s maze, all laws degrade.
He casts as villains those who fight,
For Earth, for truth, for solar light.
“Globalists!” his battle cry,
To fracture minds and amplify.
Through webs of power, his chessboard grows,
As pipelines pulse where the land once glows.
The commons crushed, the megaphones ring,
While fossil barons crown their king.
Yet those who watch with eagle’s sight,
See through the fog of scripted blight.
Connect the threads, expose the plan,
Awake the will of every man.
For though the game seems darkly played,
The light of truth cannot be swayed.
The Earth resists, its voice profound,
And those who hear shall turn it ’round.
Resist the burn, the shadowed grip,
Reverse the course of White’s dark ship.
For in the clash of night and dawn,
The people rise, the lie withdrawn.
GQ