Pete Hegseth to Chair New Department of Defense Homeland Defense Advisory Board

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will chair a new Homeland Defense advisory board.

DefenseNews, citing a memo in the Federal Register Sept. 11, reported that the new board—known simply as the Homeland Defense Board—will provide “specific integrated advice” to Hegseth “regarding the military’s mission of defense.”

Some 40 federal advisory committees now serve the Pentagon. Since assuming office, Hegseth has made cuts to board memberships and certain boards altogether, including one working to advise women in service and another that works to prevent sexual misconduct. He defended his actions, saying they were determined on whether the committees were aligned with President Donald Trump’s policy priorities.

“In an era where peer and near-peer adversaries are actively projecting economic, cyber, and military power into the Western Hemisphere, the HDB [Homeland Defense Board] will provide critical, independent assessments of the DoW’s hemispheric defensive posture and domestic security preparedness,” a memo announcing the board reportedly said.

Military.com reached out to the Department of Defense (DOD) for comment.

The announcement of a new board bucks that trend and shows the direction the Pentagon is headed in as it deals with multiple conflicts and issues, including the ongoing war with Iran that began Feb. 28 and has caused domestic and international instability. The war cost American taxpayers roughly $38 billion between late February and the end of July.

The memo cited by DefenseNews will provide information “not available from any other Federal advisory committee, government agency, or alternative source,” and will ensure Hegseth and the Pentagon at large do not only rely “solely on internal” Pentagon staff for decision-making—something they said would create “insufficient” knowledge.

It also suggested the board would create a bridge between the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The defense secretary has also purged high-ranking officials. Among those who have been fired, pushed out, or pressured to resign have included Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. CQ Brown Jr., Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George.

Efforts to minimize such actions have been introduced as part of the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA.

Who is on the Board?

The board will have up to 20 members, including Hegseth, who will serve as chair.

The assistant secretary of defense for Homeland Defense and Americas Security Affairs will serve as vice-chair. There will also be deputy assistant secretaries of defense for Homeland Defense and Defense Continuity and Mission Assurance appointed.

Credit: DoW photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Carson Croom

It will also appoint one civilian, one field or mid-grade officer from each military branch, and other members Hegseth may wish to appoint.

“Finally, the HDB’s advice and recommendations will serve an essential function by bridging the gap between the military and domestic Homeland security agencies to secure the defense critical infrastructure, vital transport networks and logistics nodes and the defense industrial base,” the memo said.

“Without this advisory body, the DoW risks strategic blind spots in its primary mission to protect the Homeland.”