Pentagon Defends Hegseth Stumping Against Massie Amid Hatch Act Claims [View all]
Source: Newsweek
Published. May 17, 2026 at 01:55 PM EDT
In an email statement to Newsweek on Sunday, the Pentagon refuted allegations that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is violating the Hatch Act. The accusations stem from Hegseth’s scheduled appearance on Monday in Hebron, Kentucky, to campaign for Republican candidate Ed Gallrein, who is challenging incumbent Representative Thomas Massie in the state's 4th Congressional District.
The high-stakes primary on May 19 has evolved into a significant proxy war and a critical test of President Donald Trump’s political influence. While Gallrein holds the president's endorsement and has pledged absolute alignment with the administration, Massie has maintained a prominent role as an intraparty critic of Trump. "You can tell that I'm ahead in the polls and they're desperate. That's why they're sending the Secretary of War to my district tomorrow," Massie said Sunday during an appearance on ABC News' This Week.
However, the Pentagon told Newsweek Hegseth is attending the rally "in his personal capacity.". "No taxpayer dollars will be used to facilitate his visit. His participation has been thoroughly vetted and cleared by lawyers, including the Department of War Office of General Counsel, and does not violate the Hatch Act or any other applicable federal statute," chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell wrote.
Hegseth will be in Kentucky on Monday as part of his official duties to preside over a ceremony at Fort Campbell to award Purple Hearts to 101st Airborne Division Soldiers wounded during a 2003 grenade attack in Kuwait and to administer the oath of enlistment to 190 re-enlistees. Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC), which oversees enforcement of the Hatch Act, as well as the White House, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune by email on Sunday morning for comment.
Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/pete-hegseth-thomas-massie-ed-gallreinand-hatch-act-violation-11961018
They have been openly and brazenly violating the Hatch Act since the first term.
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