The top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee told Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth he’s unsuitable to lead a department with 3.5 million service members and civilian employees and an annual budget of nearly $900 billion.

Sen. Jack Reed, Rhode Island Democrat, announced his opposition to Mr. Hegseth’s confirmation before asking any questions during the Tuesday confirmation hearing. 

“These are perilous times, and the position of secretary of defense demands a leader of unparalleled experience, wisdom and, above all else, character. The secretary is expected to be a fair, nonpartisan and responsible leader, as well as a trustworthy advocate for the men and women that he leads,” Mr. Reed said. 

“Mr. Hegseth, I do not believe you are qualified to meet the overwhelming demands of this job,” he added. 

He cited several reasons for his opposition, including “concerning public reports” and Mr. Hegseth’s past comments and writings that the senator said implicate the defense nominee in “disregarding the laws of war, financial mismanagement, racist and sexist remarks about men and women in uniform, alcohol abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment and other troubling issues.” 

Mr. Reed said the totality of the allegations and comments would disqualify any service member from holding any military leadership position, let alone the top Pentagon post. 

Among Mr. Hegseth’s public comments with which Mr. Reed took issue were his criticism of women serving in combat roles and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the military. 

Mr. Hegseth said in his testimony that service members will be selected for their roles based on performance, readiness and merit. 

“Our standards will be high and they will be equal, not equitable,” he said. “That’s a very different word.”

Mr. Reed also cited concerns about Mr. Hegseth’s reported financial mismanagement of veterans organizations far smaller than the Defense Department. 

An independent forensic accountant review of Vets for Freedom, which Mr. Hegseth led from 2008 to 2010, that discovered evidence of gross financial mismanagement wasn’t made available to any government agency to review as part of Mr. Hegseth’s vetting, Mr. Reed said. 

Mr. Hegseth said he looked forward to defending his record leading Vets for Freedom during the hearing. 

Mr. Reed noted that he voted in favor of all past Defense secretary nominees, including Mr. Trump’s first-term Pentagon pick, Jim Mattis, but “unfortunately” couldn’t do so with Mr. Hegseth. 

“You lack the character of composure and confidence to hold the position of secretary of defense,” the senator said.

Later, during the question-and-answer portion of the hearing, Mr. Reed and Mr. Hegseth tangled over the nominee’s past support for pardoning American soldiers convicted of war crimes. 

Mr. Hegseth said many of the cases Mr. Reed referenced involved withheld evidence and prosecutorial misconduct.

As someone who’s led men in combat, the former Army officer said he has “thought very deeply about legality and lethality.” He added he doesn’t disavow the laws of war but that lawyers and “restrictive rules of engagement” can hamper efforts to fight the enemy.  

• Lindsey McPherson can be reached at lmcpherson@washingtontimes.com.