Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon picks raise questions over Trump family business ties
Summary
Pete Hegseth appointed two men with links to Donald Trump Jr.’s venture capital fund to the Pentagon’s Defense Policy Board. These appointees advise the Pentagon on defense technology while their firms have investments in military companies that receive large federal contracts.Key Facts
- Pete Hegseth appointed Marc Andreessen and Blake Masters to the Defense Policy Board.
- Both Andreessen and Masters have ties to 1789 Capital, a venture fund where Donald Trump Jr. is a partner.
- Andreessen’s firm, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), co-invests with 1789 Capital in three defense contractors.
- These defense contractors have received billions in federal loans and contracts during President Trump’s second term.
- The Defense Policy Board advises the Secretary of Defense on military strategy and technology but does not set policy directly.
- Advisory boards like this can have conflicts of interest because members often seek business with the government agency they advise.
- The board was restructured in 2026 by Hegseth, who added new members including some with industry ties.
- Critics worry that these appointments could mix the financial interests of the President’s family with US defense priorities.
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