When Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth begins his first official day on Monday, he will be confronted with a wide range of pressing issues. These include addressing President Donald Trump's directive to enhance the U.S. military presence along the southern border and evaluating the potential use of active-duty forces for law enforcement, a measure rarely taken.
Among the myriad challenges awaiting Hegseth are developing the Pentagon's substantial budget, decisions regarding aid to Ukraine, support for the ceasefire in Gaza, and troop deployments in the Middle East. Additionally, he faces directives from Trump to eliminate diversity programs and personnel from the federal government, as well as efforts to reduce waste and remove any remaining Biden administration supporters.
