Up to date on January 25, 2025 at 2:31 p.m. ET

Pricey Mr. Secretary,

Custom dictates that I start by way of congratulating you for your affirmation. You appear to be a person who appreciates frankness, and so I will be able to spare you empty decorum: It will be disingenuous of me to disclaim that I’ve been adverse for your nomination to guide the Division of Protection from the instant it used to be introduced. However the Senate has voted, and also you are actually the chief of essentially the most robust army on the earth.

Somewhat than give you insincere congratulations, I’m hoping you’ll settle for—within the spirit of the affection of nation that I do know we each proportion—some unsolicited recommendation. You face distinctive demanding situations: You might be a few of the least certified main Cupboard nominees in trendy American historical past, you don’t have any background in main a big group, and you return into workplace with severe questions on your persona and health, even from some on your personal birthday party. I should inform you that I imagine you’ll have advised Donald Trump final fall that it’s essential to no longer, in excellent moral sense, settle for his be offering.

However you probably did settle for it, and so I write to you as of late no longer as a critic, however as a fellow American. I do know—as you do—that your luck is very important to the safety and security of our country, and so all folks with one thing to provide owe you our easiest efforts, together with our direct and fair perspectives.

I ship those ideas to you with out partisanship or in poor health will: The time for that’s over. We are living in bad occasions and you can not fail on your new tasks. I’ve little interest in lecturing you about your individual lifestyles, or your reported use of alcohol. I’ve been thru such struggles myself, and I imagine that even—in all probability particularly—in difficult moments, you’ll select to means your new obligations with each bodily and highbrow sobriety.

I labored in nationwide safety and protection affairs for just about 40 years, together with a quarter-century during which my accountability used to be to teach American officials. I have no idea methods to be a Secretary of Protection, however in keeping with my enjoy, I’ve 3 suggestions for you that I’m hoping will give a contribution to a a success tenure main The usa’s army.

First, and maximum vital, I implore you to hear the women and men operating for you who’ve served our country. Listening is an indication of power, Mr. Secretary, no longer weak point. Each unhealthy senior chief I ever encountered in my occupation, together with generals, admirals, and elected officers, all had the similar flaw: Lack of confidence. They talked and opined and issued orders as a substitute of listening. (From your personal army days, you almost certainly keep in mind this expression: They simply had Transmit Mode, no Obtain Mode.) I do know you’ve been charged with shaking up the Pentagon, however the bad global round us won’t put their plans on pause in the event you get distracted by way of a superficial home tradition conflict.

You’re going to have the ability of choice on virtually anything else that crosses your trail, however you aren’t omniscient. You might be surrounded by way of a wealth of enjoy and experience. Sure, probably the most other folks beneath you’ll no longer feel free concerning the election or your affirmation, however they recognize the horrible burden you’re sporting, and they’re there that will help you. They proportion your love of nation, and your sense of responsibility. Their luck is your luck. They don’t seem to be the enemy. Listen them out.

Talking of enemies, you should take care of the truth that you’re getting into workplace with virtually no credibility together with your counterparts in Moscow and Beijing (and in other places). I say this no longer as an insult, however to explain in simple phrases the stipulations you face in a foreign country. I’ve lengthy enjoy with the Russians, specifically, and whilst they’re going to deal with you with formal courtesy, make no mistake: Those are onerous and perilous individuals who will don’t have any recognize for a former O-4 and talk-show host. I comprehend it is an uncomfortable fact, however defensiveness about this may occasionally handiest distract you from the paintings forward.

You should duvet a large number of distance with the ones warring parties. Your earlier talents as a public commentator will likely be of no lend a hand and if truth be told will turn out counterproductive in such scenarios. You can’t bully and speechify your option to recognize with such other folks; they’re difficult in some way that can’t be countered with macho posturing or rants about DEI. The facile allure that labored for you in public lifestyles will likely be a vulnerability in coping with our enemies, who will search to milk each and every inconsiderate phrase. The combative punditry that works so neatly on cable tv in The usa would possibly have helped you burn time right through your affirmation listening to, however none of that may serve you neatly in negotiations or discussions with our devoted foes. (It gained’t do you a lot excellent speaking to our allies, both.)

As a substitute, you’ll to find that you simply should depend on individuals who were within the rooms you’ve by no means observed till now. You aren’t required to take their recommendation, Mr. Secretary, but if your opposite numbers name you, your team of workers will have the ability to help you in techniques it’s possible you’ll no longer have thought to be. They are able to alert you about your opponent’s methods—and weaknesses—ahead of you even select up the telephone. Your earlier occupation has rewarded bombast and bluster; now you’ll have to grasp judiciousness, restraint, and the strategic use of silence.

In any case, I’m hoping that you’re going to depart in the back of the type of rhetoric that introduced you to prominence. I do know that you simply received this put up by way of being a faithful soldier for President Trump. Actually that the majority American citizens—together with the American citizens who serve within the U.S. army—don’t in reality care just about up to you’d consider the cultural problems that introduced you into the Trump management. You might be now not a pundit or a provocateur: From as of late, your fellow electorate are trusting you with the lives in their kids. (“Thanks for giving us your son,” a basic advised considered one of my pals whose boy, such as you, went thru ROTC. “We’ll take excellent care of him.”)

The remainder of us are trusting you with all our lives. You’ll want to neatly be the final particular person to talk to the president ahead of he makes a decision to visit conflict—or considers the usage of nuclear guns. Partisan attachments will likely be meaningless at such moments.

When I used to be slightly 30 years previous, I recommended a Republican senator who used to be looking to make a decision whether or not to reinforce President George H. W. Bush’s 1990 choice to visit conflict in opposition to Iraq in Kuwait. “Am I doing the suitable factor?” he requested me. At that second, I felt as though the arena had fallen on my shoulders. Not anything else mattered. “Sure, I believe so,” I stammered. After which we spent hours within the gloom of a wintry weather afternoon discussing his eventual vote to ship younger American citizens into fight.

You’re going to face selections galactically more than my one small second with my boss 35 years in the past. Some selections you are making will really feel small to you, however they’re going to have an have an effect on on masses of hundreds of other folks within the army group, and others will are living with them lengthy after you’ve left executive carrier. Extra importantly, a few of your solutions can have existential penalties for humanity itself. The election and the speeches are over. The lives of hundreds of thousands—or in all probability billions—now rely on stuff you say that no person however the president would possibly listen.

You’re a guy of religion, Mr. Secretary. Now we have that during not unusual. And so I’ll shut with my trustworthy want that the Lord stay you and information you within the days to return.

This text has been up to date to right kind Hegseth’s rank within the Military.