Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth maintained that the U.S. bombing campaign completely obliterated Iran’s nuclear capabilities, dismissing emerging intelligence assessments that indicated the strikes fell short of their objectives. This public stance, which favors a misleading narrative amid conflicting evidence, highlights a concerning politicization of military intelligence.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended his decision to deploy more than 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to secure federal immigration raids in Los Angeles. The move, aimed at maintaining 'law and order,' has drawn bipartisan criticism and raised concerns over the militarization of domestic policy.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, representing the Department of Defense, chose not to act on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s request to direct military forces to detain or arrest protesters in Los Angeles, thereby upholding constitutional limits on military involvement in domestic law enforcement.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed an emergency motion in federal court seeking to block the Department of Defense, alongside President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, from using military forces in Los Angeles amid anti-ICE riots. The motion argues that deploying the military against civilian protests escalates tensions, undermines state sovereignty, and utilizes repressive tactics reminiscent of authoritarian regimes.

The Department of Defense was criticized for its lack of preparation, such as failing to arrange proper sleeping accommodations for troops federalized by President Trump, undermining state authority in California during urban unrest.

The Department of Defense announced that it has accepted a donated Boeing jet from Qatar, which will be retrofitted to transport President Trump. This move raises concerns about potential foreign influence and political favoritism, as the donation is tied to a controversial administration practice.

The Department of Defense removed Col. Susan Meyers, commander of Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, after she sent a base-wide email that deviated from official messaging. The firing followed Vice President JD Vance’s visit amid a backdrop of tensions surrounding President Donald Trump’s plans for Greenland, with Pentagon spokespeople emphasizing that any action undermining the chain of command or subverting the president’s agenda would not be tolerated.

Senate Democrats, citing violations of the Leahy Law and concerns over supporting regimes with poor human rights records, pressured the Pentagon to halt planned joint military exercises with foreign military units from countries accused of human rights abuses and coups. Following this political intervention, the Pentagon abandoned the training plans, marking a move away from inadvertently enabling authoritarian practices.

An inspector general report from September 2023 detailed that Maj. Gen. Christopher Finerty, a high-ranking Air Force official under the Department of Defense, engaged in multiple inappropriate and intimate relationships with Capitol Hill staffers. These actions raised serious concerns over conflicts of interest and undue influence on legislative affairs, ultimately leading to his demotion and exposing broader issues of ethical oversight within the DoD.

On August 29, 2023, legislation was introduced in the U.S. House aimed at imposing stricter lobbying and revolving door restrictions on Department of Defense employees and contractors. The bill, House Bill 5306, includes measures such as a four‐year ban on defense contractors hiring senior DOD officials, extending prohibitions on lobbying by former military generals, mandating detailed annual lobbying reports, and prohibiting senior DOD officials from holding stock in major defense contractors. These provisions are designed to enhance transparency and reduce conflicts of interest within the defense establishment.

An investigative report chaired by Senator Elizabeth Warren has revealed nearly 700 instances where former DoD officials join defense contractors in roles as lobbyists or executives, raising concerns over accountability and conflicts of interest. The report has spurred calls for legislative reform through the proposed Department of Defense Ethics and Anti-Corruption Act, with a Senate hearing scheduled on April 26, 2023.

Assistant Secretary Celeste Wallander stated that authoritarian regimes, like Russia under Putin, suffer from a lack of constructive feedback and diverse viewpoints, contrasting them with the effective, inclusive decision-making processes valued by the U.S. Department of Defense and its allies.

The report details how numerous former Pentagon officials have transitioned into lobbying roles for key defense contractors. This revolving door calls into question the integrity of the Department of Defense's regulatory processes and its ability to impartially oversee arms sales and defense policy.

An analysis reveals that the Department of Defense's recent contract awards, including a $13.3 billion contract to Northrop Grumman in September 2020 and previous awards like Raytheon’s LRSO contract in April 2020, underscore deep ties with the military‐industrial complex. Critics point to ethical concerns regarding the Secretary of Defense’s prior industry connections and argue that these actions fuel a cycle of militarism and nuclear escalation that benefits defense contractors over national and global security.