Hegseth Slams Fox Reporter Over 'Fake News of the Day' Accusing Him of Milking $140k from Taxpayers

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth swiftly rejected claims that he is misusing taxpayer funds due to renovations at his government-provided residence, clarifying that these repairs were planned prior to his appointment.

Florida Democratic Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Rosa DeLauro sent a letter dated Feb. 7 to the new Pentagon chief, pressing him for answers regarding $137,297 spent on painting and other improvements to his assigned residence.

Fox News national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin made the letter public, sarcastically questioning why the costs were justified "in light of DOGE efforts to save tax payer money."

Schultz and DeLauro requested a response by Feb. 21. However, Hegseth responded within hours.

“Fake News of the Day,” he posted on X, adding that this was “not surprising” coming from Griffin and the Democrats, whom he labeled as "the same thing."

He clarified, "Any/all house repairs were going to happen no matter who was moving in—and were all initiated by DoD."

“But Dems/Jen don’t care about facts; they’re just Trump haters,” he remarked.

It is worth noting that Griffin and the Democrats have chosen to spotlight what seems to be a routine maintenance project associated with a transition in leadership, even as Elon Musk and his team at DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) uncover extensive instances of government waste.

Recent government-funded expenditures exposed by DOGE, for instance, include bizarre projects such as steroid-enhanced hamster fights and studies involving alcoholic mice with racial biases.

Beyond Griffin’s commentary, another point in the letter is particularly striking.

Schultz and DeLauro reminded Hegseth that "many servicemembers and their families currently live in unacceptable housing conditions including houses with mold, lead paint, and other hazards."

They questioned "what commitment" Hegseth would make "to provide servicemembers with a similarly high quality of housing for themselves and their families."

The implication was clear—they sought to paint Hegseth as indulging in luxury while enlisted personnel endure subpar conditions.

Yet, their argument backfired.

Hegseth has only recently joined the administration. Conversely, Schultz and DeLauro have been in government for decades.

Why have they failed to secure quality housing for military members during their long tenures?

Both lawmakers wield significant influence.

DeLauro, a member of Congress since 1991, previously chaired the House Appropriations Committee when Democrats controlled the House and currently serves as its ranking member.

Schultz, who has been in Congress since 2005, formerly chaired the Democratic National Convention.

Since housing is the focus of this controversy, perhaps Hegseth should remind them of an old adage—those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.