The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussions of gender discrimination, transgender discrimination, antigay bias, and racism. 

Hegseth examines the ideological divide between traditional military values and the progressive influence of elite academic institutions, particularly Harvard. He argues that modern military leadership has become entangled with the ideological priorities of universities, leading to a shift away from the warrior ethos toward careerism and compliance with social justice ideologies. This shift, he claims, is evident in the military’s acceptance of progressive reforms, such as the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”—a policy that allowed gay and lesbian people to serve in the armed forced as long as they kept their sexual orientation secret—and gender integration in combat roles, which he believes has led to a decline in military readiness.

A key episode in the chapter centers on Hegseth’s testimony during the 2010 Supreme Court confirmation hearing for Elena Kagan. He critiqued Kagan’s tenure as dean of Harvard Law School, where she restricted military recruiters on campus due to the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Hegseth argues that Kagan’s decision was driven by ideological opposition to the military, not just the policy itself, especially since Harvard maintained financial ties to nations like Saudi Arabia, which oppress LGBTQ individuals.