Full Breakdown
Pentagon Globe Damage Incident Highlights Procedural Lapses
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
In February 3, staff members assigned to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attempted to relocate a historic World II-era floor globe that had been used by General Dwight D. Eisenhower. The team dropped the 30-inch (approximately 76 cm) artifact, creating a several-inch-wide gash near the Antarctic region of the sphere and detaching the globe from its metal mounting that allows it to rotate. The globe was not moved to Hegseth’s office and is currently undergoing repair.
Background & Context
Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander who directed the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944, was known for using large standing globes to illustrate strategy. Two such globes, dating to the 1930s, have been kept in the Pentagon’s artifact storage and are considered “priceless” by Army officials. Hegseth, confirmed as Defense Secretary in January 2025, expressed interest in displaying one of the globes in his office, citing its historical significance.
Data & Statistics
- Globe size: 30 inches (? 76 cm) in diameter.
- Damage: a hole several inches wide in the lower portion of the sphere; the spherical portion detached from its metal mounting.
- Artifact status: cataloged by the U.S. Army Center of Military History (CMH) and displayed in a senior Army office within the Pentagon.
Official Statements & Responses
A Pentagon spokesperson described the incident as an accident involving a “replica of the Eisenhower globe” and emphasized that no one was harmed, adding that the globe is being repaired. The Department of Defense declined requests for a physical inspection of the artifact.
Criticism & Opposition
Several elected officials and commentators framed the mishap as emblematic of broader concerns about Hegseth’s management style:
- “Hegseth drops the ball — quite literally, this time,” — Congressman Troy Carter
- “Incompetence all around. They break everything they touch.” — Jason Crow
- “And of course, they ignored the TRAINED EXPERTS WHO HANDLE HISTORICAL ITEMS,” — Joanne Freeman, yale historian
- “Terrorist organizations will use this as a recruiting tool. It will radicalize other people,” — Sen. Thom Tillis
These statements underscore criticism that the decision to bypass trained curators reflected a lack of patience and disregard for established preservation protocols.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on whether the damaged globe was the original Eisenhower artifact or a replica. NBC News and the Pentagon’s initial statement referred to the item as a replica, while the Washington Post and multiple eyewitness photographs identified it as the original globe used by Eisenhower. The Department of Defense has not disclosed repair cost estimates or a timeline for completion. Additionally, the exact chain of command authorizing the move remains unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Terrorist organizations will use this as a recruiting tool. It will radicalize other people,” — Sen. Thom Tillis, Republican of North Carolina
- “And of course, they ignored the TRAINED EXPERTS WHO HANDLE HISTORICAL ITEMS,” — Joanne Freeman, Yale historian
- “Hegseth drops the ball — quite literally, this time,” — Congressman Troy Carter
- “Incompetence all around. They break everything they touch.” — Jason Crow, U.S. Representative
What’s Next
The Army’s Center of Military History is consulting experts on how to transport the globe safely for future display, but no public schedule for completion of repairs has been announced.