Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to be Defense secretary, appears before the Senate Armed Services Committee for his confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Credit: AP/Alex Brandon
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that his department is moving ahead with President Donald Trump’s plan to use Guantanamo Bay to house 30,000 migrants. The announcement came just hours after a devastating midair collision in Washington, D.C., left over 60 people dead.
Hegseth provided an update on the controversial plan while recovery efforts were still ongoing near the Pentagon. “All right, update this morning, I just got off the phone with the South Com Commander and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs talking about our efforts at Guantanamo Bay,” Hegseth said. “That is ongoing.”
He emphasized the urgency of the project, stating, “We’re leaning forward on supporting the President’s directive to make sure that we have a location for violent criminal illegals as they are deported out of the country. No one’s gonna wait on the Defense Department, and we’re working that in real-time.”
The timing of Hegseth’s update drew criticism, as it coincided with ongoing efforts to address the tragic crash involving a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger jet. Hegseth also commented on the accident, providing details about the military personnel involved.
“We do know on our side who was involved,” he stated. “It was a fairly experienced crew, and it was doing a required annual night evaluation. They did have night vision goggles.” He assured that an investigation was underway to determine the circumstances of the collision.
“We anticipate that the investigation will quickly be able to determine whether the aircraft was in the corridor and at the right altitude at the time of the incident,” he explained. “Next-of-kin notifications are ongoing.”
Hegseth also expressed condolences for those affected. “They’re in our prayers, their families, and their communities as people are notified. I can’t imagine,” he said.
As the investigation continues, the defense secretary’s decision to push forward with the Guantanamo Bay plan in the wake of the tragedy has sparked further debate over the administration’s priorities.
