Washington, D.C. — Democracy Forward today sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Defense’s Inspector General, as well as submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, seeking an investigation and records related to apparent violations of U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) policies designed to preserve the military’s nonpartisan character — a core principle intended to ensure the armed forces serve and protect all Americans, regardless of politics.
The request follows a New York Times article reporting that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth planned to campaign in Kentucky’s primary election. The article notes that such conduct is “highly unusual” because senior DOD officials generally avoid partisan political activity in order to maintain the military’s apolitical role and public trust in the institution.
But this move is more than highly unusual – it is an apparent violation of DOD’s 2026 political activity rules. DOD’s 2026 political activity rules expressly prohibit Senate-confirmed presidential appointees (PAS) from taking an active role in partisan political campaigns. The policy makes clear that prohibited activity includes actions such as delivering speeches, participating in fundraising efforts, canvassing, or serving on campaign phone banks.
“While flagrant violations of ethics laws and policies seem to be commonplace for this administration, Secretary Hegseth appears to have doubled down, violating his own agency’s specific regulations against politicking,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “Our national security and those charged to protect it must be above brash partisan politics. This investigation will get to the truth.”
Democracy Forward is asking the DOD Office of Inspector General to investigate: (1) whether Secretary Hegseth violated DOD political activity policies, and (2) DOD’s process for reviewing and approving proposed political engagements involving PAS officials, non-career Senior Executive Service officials, and other political appointees.
“This is not the first time that Secretary Hegseth has planned to take part in partisan political activity,” the request notes. In March, the secretary was scheduled to “headline” a fundraiser for a congressional candidate in Iowa before the event was cancelled due to the war with Iran.
A separate FOIA request seeks records concerning these activities and any internal DOD review, approval, ethics guidance, or communications related to partisan political activity by political appointees.
Read the Inspector General letter here and the FOIA request here.
