- Rep. Hinson publicly supported Pete Hegseth as a "strong pick" for Secretary of Defense, emphasizing his potential to disrupt bureaucracy, end DEI efforts in the military, and reform the Pentagon (Gazette, Globe Gazette).
- Hinson defended Sen. Ernst's thorough vetting of defense secretary nominees, describing her as a "fierce conservative fighter" and affirming her constitutional duty in the process (Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier).
- In 2021, Hinson voted to grant a waiver for Gen. Lloyd Austin to serve as Defense Secretary, citing his qualifications despite reservations about setting a precedent for such exemptions (Telegraph Herald).
- Hinson highlighted the bipartisan nature of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, noting that it was a compromise bill funding the military despite both parties not obtaining all desired provisions (Manchester Press).
- She cited findings from a war game on a potential conflict over Taiwan, warning the U.S. could quickly run out of ammunition, signaling a vulnerability in defense manufacturing capacity (New Hampton Tribune).
December 2024: Hinson Called Hegseth 'A Strong Pick' For Secretary of Defense According to Gazette, "Hinson, in a follow-up statement to The Gazette, called Hegseth 'a strong pick.' 'I was able to hear him speak earlier this week and think he will be a disruptor, end work DEI infecting our military, and cut through the endless bureaucracy at the Pentagon,' Hinson said." [Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA), 12/6/24]
December 2024: Hinson Called Hegseth 'A Strong Pick' For Defense Secretary According to Daily Nonpareil, "Hinson, in a follow-up statement to The Gazette, called Hegseth 'a strong pick.' 'I was able to hear him speak earlier this week and think he will be a disruptor, end work DEI infecting our military, and cut through the endless bureaucracy at the Pentagon,' Hinson said." [Daily Nonpareil, 12/6/24]
December 2024: Hinson Called Hegseth a "Strong Pick" For Defense Secretary According to Muscatine Journal, Hinson, in a statement to The Gazette, called Hegseth "a strong pick." "I was able to hear him speak earlier this week and think he will be a disruptor, end work DEI infecting our military, and cut through the endless bureaucracy at the Pentagon," Hinson said. [Muscatine Journal (Iowa), 12/6/24]
December 2024: Hinson Called Hegseth 'A Strong Pick' For Defense Secretary According to Daily Nonpareil, "Hinson, in a follow-up statement to The Gazette, called Hegseth 'a strong pick.'" [Daily Nonpareil, 12/8/24]
January 2021: Hinson Voted For Exemption Allowing Gen. Lloyd Austin To Become Defense Secretary According to Telegraph Herald, 'While I have concerns about establishing a regular pattern of offering these waivers, I voted in favor of Secretary-designate Austin's waiver request to serve as the head of the Department of Defense,' she said in a statement. 'After discussions with key national security officials, I believe he is the best candidate for the job and will lead the Pentagon and our armed services with distinction.' [Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA), 1/24/21]
December 2023: Hinson Cited Consensus On National Defense Authorization Act Passage According to Manchester Press (Iowa), 'Look at the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) just passed last week that was a product of a Democratic-controlled Senate and a Republican-controlled House. It funds our military. We didn't get everything we wanted and the Senate didn't get everything they wanted. But we were able to put together a bill that was the consensus of both chambers.' [Manchester Press (Iowa), 12/27/23]
December 2024: Hinson Supported Pete Hegseth As Trump's Secretary Of Defense Pick According to Globe Gazette, "Hinson, in a follow-up statement to The Gazette, called Hegseth 'a strong pick.' 'I was able to hear him speak earlier this week and think he will be a disruptor, end work DEI infecting our military, and cut through the endless bureaucracy at the Pentagon,' Hinson said." [Globe Gazette, 12/6/24]
December 2024: Hinson Defended Ernst Over Trump Defense Secretary Pick Vetting According to Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, "Hinson called Ernst a 'fierce conservative fighter.' 'She has dedicated her life to serving our Iowans and her country, and it is her constitutional duty to vet all of these nominees thoroughly, and I think that's what she is doing,' Hinson said." [Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, 12/6/24]
December 2024: Hinson Expressed Support For Hegseth As Secretary Of Defense Nominee According to Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, "Hinson, in a follow-up statement, called Hegseth 'a strong pick.' 'I was able to hear him speak earlier this week and think he will be a disruptor, end work DEI infecting our military, and cut through the endless bureaucracy at the Pentagon,' Hinson said." [Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, 12/6/24]
August 2023: Hinson Described U.S. Defense Manufacturing Shortfalls In Taiwan Scenario War Game According to New Hampton Tribune, "Hinson said that as part of a war game recently conducted around a scenario of Chinese aggression against Taiwan, it was learned 'pretty clearly we would run out of ammunition pretty quickly.'" [New Hampton Tribune (Iowa), 8/3/23]