Hegseth Pressed by Democrats Over Cuts to Pentagon Test Office

Diminishing the Pentagon’s test office is “dangerous” and risks oversight of about $74.5 billion in taxpayer dollars, Democrats Elizabeth Warren and Donald Norcross warned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Hegseth in May ordered staff cuts at the congressionally mandated Pentagon office that oversees tests of major weapons systems. The Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation aims to ensure weapons are effective and maintainable before billions of dollars are spent on them. Hegseth framed the decision as a cost-cutting move that would save $300 million each year.

“There is no evidence that DoD has assessed the operational and ...