Hegseth aides damage historic Eisenhower globe during Pentagon move
US army officials confirmed that staff for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth damaged a pre-second world war globe while moving it into his Pentagon office. The aides handled the move themselves and dropped the fragile item, separating its spherical section from the mounting. Photographs showed the broken globe on a hallway carpet.
The item was a roughly 30-inch globe from before World War II, one of two comparable 1930s pieces kept at the Pentagon. It was associated with Dwight Eisenhower’s D-day planning while he served as Allied supreme commander. Hegseth reportedly admired its historical connection and sought it for his office.
During a February transfer, his staff chose not to wait for specialist movers and handled the move themselves. They lost control and dropped it; photos showed pieces on a blue carpet and a large puncture near the bottom. The globe was not installed and is being repaired. Defense officials described it as a replica.
The incident may draw attention to how government offices handle culturally significant objects, potentially affecting historians, veterans, and taxpayers who expect public artifacts to be safeguarded. It could also intensify scrutiny of senior officials’ management and staffing decisions, though the practical consequences may remain limited if repairs succeed and no broader pattern emerges.