Veterans line up on Capitol Hill in support of Pete Hegseth

Veterans gathered on Capitol Hill in support of Pete Hegseth before his confirmation hearing for Secretary of Defense. They came voluntarily, at their own expense, to express how significant Hegseth's potential role would be. They believe his experience as a recent combat veteran would boost recruitment, which has been on the rise since his nomination. After the Afghanistan withdrawal, many veterans were discouraging their children from joining the military, but Hegseth's nomination has changed this narrative.