Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has pushed back against China’s claim that the United States’ Golden Dome missile defense initiative threatens to militarize space.
“All we care about is protecting the homeland,” Hegseth told Fox News Digital during a visit to Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
President Donald Trump has long emphasized that homeland defense is a key pillar of his “America First” agenda, and the Golden Dome is described as a generational investment in national security.
China’s Foreign Minister Mao Ning criticized the initiative earlier this week, saying the Golden Dome has a “strong offensive nature and violates the principle of peaceful use in the Outer Space Treaty.”
“The project will heighten the risk of turning space into a war zone and creating a space arms race and shake the international security and arms control system,” Mao said. “We urge the U.S. to give up developing and deploying global anti-missile system.”
Trump and Hegseth recently unveiled some details of the plan, aiming to complete the defense shield in three years with a projected cost of $125 billion.
Hegseth also addressed controversy surrounding his decision to launch a monthly Christian prayer service at the Pentagon, which has raised questions about religious freedom and the separation of church and state.
“Appealing to heaven, to God, is a longstanding tradition in our military,” Hegseth said. He referenced George Washington, noting the first president “got on bended knee alongside his continental Army forces.”
“I appeal to Jesus Christ for that protection, to speak that word and be open and willing to talk about it at the Pentagon. If they want to criticize that, they’re on the wrong side,” he said.
Hegseth made the remarks after speaking to the 82nd Airborne Division during “All-American Week,” where he announced the official renaming of Fort Liberty back to Fort Bragg.
“It is Fort Bragg again,” Hegseth declared to an enthusiastic crowd. “Nothing wrong with Fort Liberty. Give me liberty or give me death. I love it. But give me Fort Bragg every day of the week.”
He also responded to critics who questioned whether he has the strategic background for the role of defense secretary.
“Our friends in the fake news media are here,” Hegseth said. “Some of them said, ‘Critics might say you can’t choose an Army major to be the secretary of defense. It has to be, well, one of our many distinguished generals or congressmen or business leaders or corporate leaders.’”
“One of the critiques was we need somebody that can think strategically, big picture. We can’t have a guy who thinks like the troops, to which I say ‘Hell, yeah, we can have a guy that thinks like the troops.’”
He addressed the paratroopers directly: “I’ve been in that formation, loosening my knees, taking a deep breath, gazing over the horizon, sweating and wondering what time it is, but I can’t move my arm. I’ve been in your boots — not yours. The 101st is not the 82nd. I’ll admit that on a day like today. Not quite your boots or your beret, but close.”
Hegseth also announced a boost in jump pay for paratroopers. Monthly hazardous duty incentive pay will rise from $150 to $200. For jump masters, the rate will increase from $150 to $300.
“Here’s to our paratroopers, our jumpmasters, who do the difficult things in difficult places that most Americans can never imagine,” he said.
According to Gen. Gregory Anderson of the 18th Airborne Corps, the number of paid parachutist positions in the Army, currently at 56,756, will be reduced by 20,000. The reduction is intended to allow for increased compensation for those who retain jump status and to improve overall training standards.
“Limited aircraft ability and resources” have contributed to “a degradation in proficiency,” Anderson said. “The goal has to be really good quality over quantity.”
