There is Safety... but no Humility
"General's Row" at Fort McNair consists of nine free-standing large "Beaux Arts" residences which are the coveted homes of our senior military officers who have gained their rank by steadily passing their promotion boards; are officers valued for their experience; and have shown decades of fidelity to service. They have earned the privilege and are deserving of comfortable and beautiful accommodations.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is now the occupant of this stately home:
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.31822038355053&seq=1
Where does the U.S. Army Vice Chief of Staff now reside, having received a lawful order to vacate his quarters?
https://www.army.mil/leaders/vcsa#org-bio
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also taken up residence in one of the homes. Which U.S. General and his family received a lawful order to vacate their home?
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has gained control of the U.S. Coast Guard Commandant's residence, a spacious waterfront property at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling.
U.S. Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, received a lawful order to vacate his home.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Lunday
England has their Andrew and scandalous non-payment for Royal Lodge. We have his female cousin-in-arms residing at what is known as "Quarters I". Problematic, is that Kristi Noem has received a generous pay increase minus Congressional approval. This circumvents Constitutional statute.
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-slams-dhs-secretary-noem-for-living-rent-free-in-prestigious-waterfront-military-housing-calls-for-oversight-hearing
My issue is not with safety. Our Cabinet members must be kept safe. Their families should not be harassed. Allowances for them to reside within military base perimeters for the duration of their term is not a bad idea.
But there is the troublesome issue of humility. Humility would require they be awarded a housing arrangement at least one rank below that of the senior officer who resides at the top of the chain of command for any military branch of service.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem have shown very bad form - and disrespect toward the senior officers and their families who have been displaced. This effects good order and discipline. It sends a bad signal across ranks.
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