Overview
- Army Apaches flew in the D.C. area Monday for a Pentagon Freedom 250 community event, which officials said included troop visits and video shoots with Kid Rock.
- Testifying before House lawmakers, Hegseth said he personally ended Fort Campbell’s review of March flights near Kid Rock’s Nashville home after the aircrews were suspended.
- Photos from Fort Belvoir showing Hegseth and Kid Rock by an Apache drew criticism over taxpayer costs, with California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office asking why the public was paying for it and a reported Army estimate putting Apache flight hours at about $7,000.
- Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Kid Rock met service members and pledged 1,000 free tickets for troops and veterans at each stop on his tour.
- Critics warn the intervention could blur the line between politics and military norms, raising questions about how high‑profile flights get approved and who holds the final say on discipline.