# Hegseth defends Pentagon cuts as protesters disrupt Army speech > Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke for over an hour at the Army convention, defending a twenty percent cut to general officers while anti-war protesters interrupted repeatedly. - Title: Hegseth defends Pentagon cuts as protesters disrupt Army… - Summary: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke for over an hour at the Army convention, defending a twenty percent cut to general officers while anti-war protesters… - Keywords: pete hegseth, defense secretary, pentagon, army convention, general officers, defense budget, anti-war protests, sean parnell, adam telle, hung cao, politics, news - Source: Thehill — https://thehill.com/newsletters/defense-national-security/6149566-hegseth-army-convention-protest - Read time: 3 min - Topics: pete hegseth, defense secretary, pentagon, army convention, general officers, defense budget, anti-war protests, sean parnell, adam telle, hung cao, politics, news ## Hegseth addresses Army convention Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke for more than an hour Wednesday at the Association of the United States Army convention in Washington, D.C., amid a military leadership shake-up. ## Defending the twenty percent cut Hegseth defended his twenty percent cut to general officers at the Pentagon during his remarks to the Army convention. ## Calling for Trump's budget He called on Congress to pass President Trump's one point five trillion dollar defense budget while discussing Pentagon efforts to purchase more drones and other systems. ## Protesters interrupt the speech Iran war protesters interrupted Hegseth several times during his remarks, accusing him of war crimes and condemning U.S. military operations abroad. ## Parnell introduces the panel Sean Parnell, the Pentagon's chief spokesperson and Hegseth's preferred pick for Army Secretary, introduced the panel of top service officials. ## Acting officials on the panel Acting Army Secretary Adam Telle, acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink and Derrick Anderson appeared alongside Hegseth on the panel. ## Anderson as potential candidate Derrick Anderson, the assistant secretary of Defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict, was floated by some officials as a potential candidate to be the next Army secretary. ## Panel discusses reform The officials also touched on acquisition reform and cutting red tape within the Pentagon during the convention panel discussion. ## Trump on leakers President Trump suggested Wednesday at a campaign rally in Bullhead City, Arizona that leakers should be shot, in an apparent reference to leaks about U.S. airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. ## Trump's exact words on leakers Trump said at the rally: Somebody leaked, some sleazebag. They ought to go to jail and be shot. For the rest of their life, they should be in jail. > Somebody leaked, some sleazebag. They ought to go to jail and be shot. For the rest of their life, they should be in jail. ## Leak details from Trump Trump referenced leaks that revealed the timing of U.S. operations, saying they leaked that we were leaving at twelve zero seven from Missouri. > They leaked that we were leaving at 12:07 from Missouri ## Ukraine warns on Starlink limits Ukraine raised alarm that air defense operations are being impacted by unannounced limitations on SpaceX satellites, according to presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov. ## Zelensky's warning on intelligence The Starlink disruption follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warning that President Trump has threatened to cut off intelligence sharing with Ukraine. ## Crenshaw backs energy ceasefire Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas expressed support for President Trump's push for an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine on Wednesday. ## Crenshaw criticizes Putin Crenshaw said Trump did the right thing by trying to force an energy ceasefire but slammed Putin over Russia's apparent betrayal of the claimed ceasefire. > President Trump did the right thing by trying to force an energy ceasefire. You have to try. But unfortunately a deal depends on the parties involved, and Putin ## Autonomous warfare discussion Hegseth led a panel to discuss the future of autonomous warfare at the Army convention, joined by military officials including acting Army Secretary Adam Telle. ## Events scheduled for Thursday The Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security will hold an awards ceremony with remarks by Hillary Clinton at ten thirty a.m.Thursday.UK Defense Secretary Wes Streeting will speak on U.S.-U.K. ## Key takeaway Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the Army convention Wednesday, defending Pentagon cuts and calling for Congress to pass President Trump's one point five trillion dollar defense budget amid anti-war protests.