The US Department of Defense has firmly shut down a request from Fox News to assign a taxpayer-funded security team to one of its prominent television hosts, Pete Hegseth.
The network had asked for a Criminal Investigation Command (CID) protective detail for Mr. Hegseth, a move that has been met with scrutiny and ultimately rejected for lacking sufficient justification.
An Unprecedented Request for a Media Personality
According to official correspondence, a lawyer representing Fox News argued that Mr. Hegseth faced credible threats that warranted government intervention. The request sought to have US Army Criminal Investigation Division special agents act as his personal security team.
This type of protection is typically reserved for high-ranking military officials, key witnesses in critical investigations, or those under specific, imminent threat as deemed by the government itself. The request for a media personality to receive such state-sponsored protection is highly unusual.
The Pentagon's Firm Rejection
In a decisive response, the Pentagon's top spokesperson, Brig Gen Pat Ryder, stated that after a thorough review, the request did not meet the strict criteria necessary to approve a government-funded protective detail.
“The Department has determined that Fox News’s request does not meet requirements for the provision of protective services by CID,” Brig Gen Ryder said in an official statement. The decision underscores the principle that government resources, particularly those of its law enforcement and security agencies, are not to be allocated for private security for individuals without a clear and present danger that aligns with strict departmental protocols.
Blurring the Lines Between Media and Government
This incident raises questions about the perceived lines between media figures and government institutions. Mr. Hegseth, a former Army National Guard officer and a vocal political commentator, frequently discusses divisive topics on his shows, Fox & Friends Weekend and Sunday Night in America.
While public figures can indeed face harassment, the mechanism for addressing such threats typically involves private security hired by the individual or their employer, not a specialised federal investigatory unit. The Pentagon's rejection reinforces the standard that its resources are for national defence and official duty, not personal protection for television personalities.
