Hegseth Pulls Officials From Security Forum That Pushes ‘the Evils of Globalism’
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has officially withdrawn senior Department of Defense officials from participating in the Aspen Security Forum, a prominent annual event featuring national security leaders and experts. The decision was announced ahead of the forum’s opening this week in Colorado, citing irreconcilable differences in values between the Pentagon and the Aspen Institute’s agenda.
Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilson confirmed the withdrawal in a statement to Just the News, explaining that Hegseth’s office views the forum as promoting “the evil of globalism,” disdain for the United States, and “hatred for the President of the United States.” This stance marked a sharp break from prior Department of Defense engagement with the forum, which has historically included participation from officials across multiple administrations.
Wilson emphasized that the Defense Department “has no interest in legitimizing an organization that has invited former officials who have been the architects of chaos abroad and failure at home.” This pointed critique appeared directed at some of the high-profile participants slated to appear, including former officials from the Trump and Biden administrations, as well as foreign policy veterans like former CIA Director David Petraeus and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
The Aspen Security Forum has long served as a bipartisan platform for discussions on global security, drawing senior civilian and military leaders, policymakers, and experts. The 2025 roster includes figures such as Adam Boehler, former presidential envoy for hostage affairs; Tom Barrack, ex-ambassador to Turkey and Syria; Jake Sullivan, former national security advisor; and Brett McGurk, former NSC coordinator under President Biden.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell elaborated on the department’s rationale, stating that the withdrawal reflects “a fundamental values conflict” with the forum’s organizers. Parnell said, “Senior Department of Defense officials will no longer be participating at the Aspen Security Forum because their values do not align with the values of the DoD.”
He continued, “The Department will remain strong in its focus to increase the lethality of our warfighters, revitalize the warrior ethos, and project Peace Through Strength on the world stage. It is clear the ASF is not in alignment with these goals.”
The Aspen Institute responded to the Pentagon’s announcement with a statement reaffirming the forum’s bipartisan and inclusive history. “For more than a decade, the Aspen Security Forum has welcomed senior officials – Republican and Democrat, civilian and military – as well as senior foreign officials and experts, who bring experience and diverse perspectives on matters of national security,” the institute said. “We will miss the participation of the Pentagon, but our invitations remain open.”
The Pentagon’s withdrawal signals a clear shift in policy under Secretary Hegseth’s leadership, reflecting a more assertive approach toward distancing the department from institutions perceived as conflicting with current national defense objectives. It also raises questions about future cooperation between the Defense Department and traditional security policy forums.
