Hegseth orders make-up studio put in at Pentagon

Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth just lately ordered modifications to a room subsequent to the Pentagon press briefing room to retrofit it with a make-up studio that can be utilized to organize for tv appearances, a number of sources advised CBS Information. 

The worth tag for the mission was a number of thousand {dollars}, in line with two of the sources, at a time when the administration is trying to find cost-cutting measures. 

“Adjustments and upgrades to the Pentagon Briefing Room are nothing new and routinely occur throughout adjustments in an administration,” a Protection Division spokesperson mentioned in a press release to CBS Information. 

The renovation that was initially deliberate was estimated to price greater than $40,000, however the concepts have been scaled again, sources mentioned.

After CBS Information revealed its report, the protection secretary responded in a submit on X, “Completely pretend story. No ‘orders’ and no ‘make-up.'”

Hegseth, earlier than turning into protection secretary, was a morning present co-host on Fox Information’ “Fox & Associates Weekend.” Since his nomination, he has vowed to emphasize enhancements within the armed forces’ warfighting skills and navy readiness.

An in-house development crew renovated the adjoining inexperienced room earlier this 12 months. The room beforehand had minimal furnishings — a desk with chairs, a TV, pictures of former protection secretaries and a mirror on the again of the door, one supply mentioned.

The desk was eliminated and a brand new chair and huge mirror with make-up lighting was put in, one other supply mentioned. 

Hegseth is doing his personal make-up forward of TV appearances, not paying for a make-up artist, a protection official advised CBS Information. 

The suggestion for enhancing the house got here from Tami Radabaugh, the deputy assistant to the secretary for strategic engagement and a former producer for Fox Information and for CBS Information, in line with a number of sources. The chief Pentagon spokesman, Sean Parnell, and the protection secretary’s spouse, Jennifer Hegseth, additionally a former Fox producer, expressed their approval for the improve earlier than it was undertaken, one of many sources mentioned. 

The Protection Division spokesperson mentioned the inexperienced room will probably be out there to senior leaders and VIPs previous to press engagements.

The brand new gadgets, together with a director’s chair, got here from present inventories, the spokesperson mentioned. A brand new countertop was constructed by services providers workers. 

“For this improve we have been intentionally conservative and opted for a number of cheaper, on-hand materiel options,” the spokesperson mentioned. 

Hegseth hasn’t used the press room to temporary reporters. Nevertheless it has been a set for his TV appearances, together with one with Fox this week by which he blamed the media and former Protection Division workers for the revelation that he despatched delicate particulars about navy strikes in a Sign group chat that he created. 

He didn’t deny information studies that he shared real-time operational info with members of the family earlier than strikes in Yemen have been carried out. He did not clarify why his spouse, who shouldn’t be a Protection Division worker, was within the textual content chat. That was the second Sign group with whom Hegseth shared planning particulars concerning the Houthi airstrikes, which came about in mid-March. The primary Sign chat, a principals group which comprised high nationwide safety officers, was created by nationwide safety adviser Michael Waltz, and its existence was uncovered by Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, who was added to the group in error by Waltz.

Hegseth claims he didn’t disclose categorised info in both of the discussion groups. The Protection Division performing inspector normal is reviewing his disclosures. 

“We’re targeted on recruiting, on rooting out DEI, on securing our southwest border, on the president’s agenda, and it is going very properly on the Pentagon, and I am pleased with it,” Hegseth mentioned Tuesday on Fox. 

The Pentagon restricted entry to its briefing room on Feb. 21, barring reporters except officers have been talking. Beforehand, press may use the room, one of many few locations they may connect with Wi-Fi within the safe constructing, to file tales and to conduct on-camera studies.