Commentary: The case for transforming VA health care

Pete Hegseth, a Fox News firebrand and now Secretary of Defense under President Trump, has long cast himself as a champion for America’s veterans. But behind the patriotic rhetoric lies a lingering scandal that has sparked questions about whether Hegseth’s loyalty lies more with political power—and his own paycheck—than with the veterans he claims to serve.

From 2012 to 2015, Hegseth led Concerned Veterans for America (CVA), a nonprofit organization ostensibly created to advocate for veterans’ issues. However, tax filings reveal a stunning detail: in 2014 alone, Hegseth pocketed over $316,000 in salary—an eyebrow-raising figure for a young, relatively small nonprofit. By 2015, his compensation remained above $300,000, even as CVA continued to position itself as a grassroots veterans’ movement.

Defense nominee Pete Hegseth starts background check amid multiple controversies

Critics swiftly pounced.

“This isn’t charity—it’s a political machine disguised as a veterans group,” one veteran advocate told The Intercept. “And Hegseth’s massive salary makes it look like he’s cashing in on his service.”

The suspicion is fueled by CVA’s deep ties to the powerful Koch network, which poured millions into conservative advocacy through organizations like CVA. Many saw Hegseth’s group not simply as a veterans’ charity—but as a political weapon designed to privatize veterans’ healthcare and push libertarian policies under the guise of patriotism.

Hegseth, for his part, defended his pay as “appropriate for the demands of national political advocacy.” Yet skeptics argue that a true veterans’ advocate shouldn’t be drawing a salary comparable to corporate CEOs, especially while many veterans struggle with homelessness, PTSD, and medical neglect.

The controversy followed Hegseth into his media career, raising questions about whether he’s a genuine voice for America’s heroes—or simply another figure in Washington’s revolving door of influence and profit. Now, as he occupies one of the nation’s most powerful defense positions, the past remains a shadow over his promises to “drain the swamp.”

One thing is certain: for Pete Hegseth, serving America has come with a hefty price tag—and plenty of questions about whose interests he truly serves.