Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Secretary Hegseth’s Incompetent Leadership As Secretary Of Defense And Dangerous, Unilateral Decision To Cancel Weapons Shipments To Ukraine

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor to call out Secretary Hegseth for his incompetent leadership at the Department of Defense, referencing his unilateral cancelation of weapons shipments to Ukraine, once again proving he is unqualified to serve in such a position. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Secretary Hegseth continues to be an embarrassment and a liability, and Donald Trump should have never chosen him to lead the Pentagon.

For the second time this year, Secretary Hegseth haphazardly canceled the shipment of vital weapons that Ukraine needs in its war for survival against Vladimir Putin. And for the second time this year, his decision was eventually walked back by the president.

The White House is apparently claiming that Secretary Hegseth acted without alerting a soul outside of the Pentagon. Not the U.S. Special Envoy to Ukraine, not the Secretary of State, not even the President of the United States.

It is good the president now says he’ll reinstate the shipment of weapons, but the administration’s handling of this situation has been unacceptable.

When asked by reporters who ordered the pause, the president said “I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?”

This is amateur hour.

What the heck is going on at the Pentagon?

When Secretary Hegseth was up for the nomination, we all talked about, on our side of the aisle, how bad he would be and how unqualified he is. This is just another example.

Being a host of a talk show does not qualify you to be Secretary of Defense, as this incident shows.

The pause of weapons to Ukraine is at best a dangerous breakdown in communications, and at worst a sign that Secretary Hegseth is more interested in helping Putin than helping Ukraine.

And what are U.S. allies supposed to make of this weapons pause?

Sure, it is good that Donald Trump reversed himself, but our allies will wonder: will this happen again?

You know who benefits most from Secretary Hegseth and Donald Trump’s incompetence? Vladimir Putin.

When Putin sees the disorganization and lack of strategy, he has no incentive to negotiate. So, Donald Trump is undercutting himself, and Secretary Hegseth is undercutting Trump in a desire to come to a fair agreement for Ukraine.

When he sees America pause vital weapons shipments to Ukraine, even for a moment, it emboldens him.

Instead of saying “I don’t know, you tell me,” here is what Donald Trump should do: he should unequivocally state the United States stands with Ukraine and against Putin.

He should state that he fully supports additional air defense for Ukraine and a strong, bipartisan sanctions package moving through the Senate, one that will give against Putin.

And Donald Trump should pick someone else to serve as Secretary of Defense.

All of the charges, all of the arguments we made against him – that he was incompetent, inexperienced, and unreliable – seem to be coming true, unfortunately, for the Defense Secretary of this country.

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