Hegseth Fires DIA Chief, Rallies DC Troops Amid Crime Surge

Pete Hegseth BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.

Pete Hegseth has had one of the most visible weeks of his career, commanding headlines and igniting controversy as Washington DC remains under a crime emergency declared by President Trump. On Thursday August 21, Defense Secretary Hegseth led a high-profile visit to the DC Armory to rally National Guard troops mobilized under the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force, joined by senior officials Earl Matthews, Colby Jenkins, and Derrick Anderson, all fellow National Guard alumni. Hegseth told the guardsmen that the nation's eyes are on them, crediting their presence with improved safety throughout the city, and emphasizing the personal connection he shared with their service, referencing his own 2020 National Guard deployment. The visit was described in military outlets and heavily covered by cable news.

That same day, Hegseth appeared at Union Station with Vice President JD Vance for a morale-building event that was captured in Defense Department video and livestreams. According to official sources, the pair met with troops, mingled with travelers and tourists, and discussed the skepticism some service members originally felt about the mission, as well as its growing positive impact on the city. The appearance, however, was not without friction: social media video circulating on Instagram revealed Hegseth, Vance, and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller being booed and heckled by protesters during their walk through Union Station.

Friday brought perhaps the most consequential shakeup, as Hegseth fired Defense Intelligence Agency chief Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, along with two senior Pentagon officials after months of public wrangling over the leaked DIA assessment of U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear targets. The DIA had reported the controversial finding that the June operation set Iran back only a few months, despite administration claims that the program had been "obliterated." At a news conference, Hegseth lashed out at media, accusing them of hoping for Trump administration failures and questioning their portrayal of the strikes.

Amid heightened security concerns in Washington following assassination attempts on President Trump and a tenfold spike in ICE assaults, Hegseth was at the center of a public feud after the Washington Post published details on his and his family's security arrangements. Pentagon spokespeople and officials, including Sean Parnell, called the reports irresponsible and dangerous, with some demanding repercussions for the journalists involved. The controversy quickly trended across political social media channels, sparking heated debate.

On August 18, Hegseth made an appearance at The Wharf for his child’s birthday, publicly praising the work of federal agents in keeping the area safe, according to a Fox affiliate. The same day he and HHS Secretary RFK Jr. jointly launched a nationwide Defend America’s Fitness Challenge, posting video invites on Instagram and encouraging Ame