Fact Check: "US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testified before Congress on June 11, 2020, regarding military aid to Ukraine."
What We Know
The claim that Pete Hegseth testified before Congress on June 11, 2020, regarding military aid to Ukraine is inaccurate. On June 11, 2025, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth did testify before a Senate Committee on Appropriations, but this hearing was focused on proposed budget estimates for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year 2026, not specifically on military aid to Ukraine (AP News, Spectrum Local News). During this hearing, Hegseth faced questions about various topics, including the deployment of troops in Los Angeles and the administration's stance on Ukraine, but there is no record of him testifying in 2020 regarding military aid to Ukraine.
Analysis
The assertion that Hegseth testified in 2020 is contradicted by multiple sources. The hearing in question took place in 2025, as confirmed by reports from CBS News and Defense News. In these reports, it is clear that Hegseth was questioned about military aid to Ukraine, but the context was related to the 2025 budget proposal and not a previous year.
The sources used to verify this information are credible news outlets, including the Associated Press and CBS News, which are known for their journalistic standards and fact-checking processes. The timeline of events is crucial here; the claim incorrectly cites the year of the testimony, leading to the conclusion that it is false.
Conclusion
Verdict: False
The claim that US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testified before Congress on June 11, 2020, regarding military aid to Ukraine is false. The testimony actually occurred on June 11, 2025, and was focused on the Department of Defense's budget for the upcoming fiscal year, not specifically on military aid to Ukraine.
Sources
- Hegseth defends use of troops in Los Angeles amid ... AP News
- Hegseth questioned about military deployment to L.A. ... CBS News
- Hegseth questioned about military deployment to L.A. ... YouTube
- Hegseth takes heat at Senate hearing over reduced aid to ... Spectrum Local News
- Hegseth under fire from senators about LA national guard ... NBC15
- Hegseth spars with senators over defense budget, LA in ... Defense News
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth provides testimony at a ... YouTube
- Pete Hegseth takes fire from Republicans at heated Senate ... The Hill
