Pete Hegseth Tells Senator Her ‘Time Is Up’ When Asked If Laura Loomer is Making Decisions at the Pentagon

A Democratic senator tore into Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a contentious Q&A about the involvement of far-right activist and conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer in personnel decision-making at the Pentagon.

Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) peppered Hegseth with questions about the dismissal of Gen. Timothy Haugh as the defense secretary faced the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill Wednesday.

Haugh, the commander of the United States Cyber Command at the NSA, was reportedly fired back in April after President Donald Trump took a meeting with Loomer in the Oval Office.

At the time, Sen. Don Bacon (R-NE) told Fox News’s Chad Pergram, “The White House fired one of our best generals and the smartest on cyber operations, and with no explanation. Russia and China are laughing at us.”

The firing raised the concern that the MAGA influencer had infiltrated the White House and was weighing in on key decisions by the White House.

Rosen’s grilling of Hegseth on Loomer’s involvement was heated, with the two often talking over each other.

When she asked if Hegseth believes it’s appropriate for a figure like Loomer “to influence personnel decisions in your department,” Hegseth took a pause and said: “I believe your time is up.”

“It is not up to you whether my time is up,” Rosen shot back.

As Rosen was informed by committee chairman Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) that her time was indeed up, she took some final shots at Hegseth as he apparently sneered at her: “I don’t appreciate the smirk, sir. You are the secretary of defense!”

Read the exchange here:

SEN. JACKY ROSEN: Were you consulted regarding Gen. Haugh’s dismissal. Yes or no?

PETE HEGSETH: Well Senator, I would not advise believing everything you read in the media. And I’m consulted on every single decision. I’m the decision maker for the department. and we all serve at the pleasure of the president. and we have the prerogative to make those decisions to the best of the country and we did that.

ROSEN: What was your recommendation? Did you personally approve Gen. Haugh’s decision, yes or no?

HEGSETH: Anyone coming or going at the defense department, especially at that level would ultimately made by me and I stand behind that.

ROSEN: Did you personally relieve him? Yes or no?

HEGSETH: Anyone at that level who is relieved would be relieved by the secretary of defense.

ROSEN: Was there a specific justification for Gen. Haugh’s dismissal? Was there a specific justification for Gen. Haugh’s dismissal?

HEGSETH: Uh, ma’am, we all serve at the pleasure of the president, and the president deserves the type of commanders and advisers that he thinks will best equip him to accomplish the mission.

ROSEN: Did you discuss Gen. Haugh’s dismissal with Laura Loomer prior to his removal?

HEGSETH: I don’t discuss who I talk about anything with but ultimately this is my decision and he serves at the pleasure of the president and that’s why he’s no longer there.

ROSEN: So do you believe it’s appropriate for any social media personality to influence personnel decisions in your department? Yes or no?

HEGSETH: Uh, I believe your time is up, Senator.

ROSEN: Oh, it is not up to you to tell me when my time is up!

SEN. ROGER WICKER: Well, the time of the Senator-

ROSEN: And I’m going to say, Mr. Secretary. You’re either feckless or complicit. You’re not in control of your department. You’re as unserious, it is shocking. You’re not combatting antisemitism within your ranks. It’s a dangerous and pivotal time in our nation’s history. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I yield back. And I don’t appreciate the smirk, sir. You are the secretary of defense.

WICKER: The time of the gentlelady has expired.

Watch above via C-SPAN.