Federalist Radio Hour Inside Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon Transformation Operation
13 snips
Feb 13, 2026 Justin Fulcher, former senior adviser to Secretary Pete Hegseth, gives a firsthand look at cultural and operational shifts inside the Department of War. He discusses refocusing the department on warfighting, rooting out Pentagon waste and holding contractors accountable. He also covers rapid procurement for drones and emerging tech, strikes and deterrence strategy, and geopolitical moves from Venezuela to Greenland.
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Underinvestment Created Readiness Gaps
- Fulcher reports an honest gap analysis found underinvestment in emerging tech and the industrial base.
- He says the department faced a multi-year catch-up after prior neglect.
Waste Is Price And Time Harm
- Waste appeared as overcharging and chronic delivery delays across programs.
- Fulcher frames delayed delivery as opportunity cost harming warfighter capability.
Enforce Contractor Accountability
- Apply rigorous accountability to contractors and resist lobbying inertia.
- Hold firms to deadlines and pricing standards to stop institutionalized waste.