Secretary of War Pete Hegseth visits Blue Origin on Florida’s Space Coast

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth visited Blue Origin in Brevard County this morning as part of his month-long “Arsenal of Freedom Tour,” amid growing competition in space technology.Hegseth toured the rocket company founded by Jeff Bezos and spoke to the workers afterward. During his visit, he emphasized the importance of American defense contractors in supporting national security, particularly in the context of the United States’ efforts to beat China to the moon.”You are the men and women who poured your lives and careers into building these incredible launch systems that we need,” Hegseth said. “That give us that advantage, whether it’s in Iran, whether it’s in Venezuela, whether it’s halfway around the world, that’s the advantage we need.”Jeff Bezos introduced Hegseth at the facility, where the Secretary of War met with Blue Origin leaders and addressed the workforce. He criticized the Biden administration and highlighted President Donald Trump’s military tactics.This visit coincides with the arrival of Blue Origin’s Blue Moon MK One lunar lander, Endurance, in Houston on Monday. The uncrewed lander will undergo thermal-vacuum chamber testing at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.”We will continue to work with our partners because we have to dominate the space domain,” Hegseth said. “That means we’ll ensure that we keep building rockets and engines and landers that you make here at scale and at speed.”

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. —

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth visited Blue Origin in Brevard County this morning as part of his month-long “Arsenal of Freedom Tour,” amid growing competition in space technology.

Hegseth toured the rocket company founded by Jeff Bezos and spoke to the workers afterward.

During his visit, he emphasized the importance of American defense contractors in supporting national security, particularly in the context of the United States’ efforts to beat China to the moon.

“You are the men and women who poured your lives and careers into building these incredible launch systems that we need,” Hegseth said. “That give us that advantage, whether it’s in Iran, whether it’s in Venezuela, whether it’s halfway around the world, that’s the advantage we need.”

Jeff Bezos introduced Hegseth at the facility, where the Secretary of War met with Blue Origin leaders and addressed the workforce.

He criticized the Biden administration and highlighted President Donald Trump’s military tactics.

This visit coincides with the arrival of Blue Origin’s Blue Moon MK One lunar lander, Endurance, in Houston on Monday.

The uncrewed lander will undergo thermal-vacuum chamber testing at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

“We will continue to work with our partners because we have to dominate the space domain,” Hegseth said. “That means we’ll ensure that we keep building rockets and engines and landers that you make here at scale and at speed.”