Pentagon confirms Eisenhower-era globe damaged during move toward Hegseth's office

A historic globe used by Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower during World War II was damaged when staff for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth tried to move it to his office, three U.S. officials told NBC News ². The Washington Post first reported the story Thursday ¹³.

The incident happened in early February, after Hegseth said he wanted the globe, which sits in a wooden frame, in his office, the officials told NBC ². The Hill reported it is unclear whether Hegseth personally asked for the move ³.

On tapeCNN · Oct 22

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What officials say happened

The globe is cataloged and kept by the U.S. Army Center of Military History but displayed in the Pentagon, NBC reported ². Instead of waiting for Army historians to move it, several staffers from Hegseth's office tried to do it themselves, the officials said. They dropped it, according to the officials, creating a hole in the lower part and damaging another area ².

The Post reported that the hole was several inches wide and near the depiction of Antarctica ¹³. The Army office that holds the globe had planned to consult experts first. Those plans were interrupted when staffers were furloughed during a partial government shutdown, and Hegseth's staff then handled the move, according to the Post ³.

Army spokesperson Christopher Surridge told the Post that the round part of the globe came off the metal mount that lets it turn, and that the bottom was damaged ¹. U.S. officials did not confirm who was responsible for moving it ¹.

Replica or original?

A Pentagon official acknowledged the accident but said staff were moving a replica. The official said "Accidents happen, we are grateful no one was harmed, and the globe is being repaired" ²³.

On tapeNPR · Oct 23

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NBC News said it verified, from the three officials and a photo, that it was not a replica but the original globe Eisenhower used ². The globe has green pen or marker notations where Eisenhower marked areas of Europe during the war ². Newsweek said it could not independently verify the photo the Post published and has asked the Pentagon for comment ¹.

The spherical portion of the globe was detached from the metal mounting that allows it to rotate,

Why it matters

Eisenhower was supreme commander of the Allied forces in World War II and gave final approval for the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944 ². Ty Seidule, a retired Army brigadier general and Hamilton College history professor, told NPR the globe was made in the mid-1930s by a British company. He said such items are usually moved "very carefully" by a team ¹.

The case for care is easy to see. When movers shipped a similar Eisenhower globe across Alabama in 2022, the company called it "priceless" ³. The Pentagon's account of this incident has also shifted: it now calls the globe a replica, while NBC says it is the original ².

the exact opposite of Eisenhower, who was this great planner

Newsweek noted that Hegseth has been criticized by former officials, Democrats and some Republicans over his handling of the Pentagon. It also noted the strain the U.S.-led war against Iran has put on U.S. forces and stockpiles ¹. The Pentagon has not said what repairs will cost or when they will be done. The Pentagon did not immediately answer NBC's further questions ².

The Record

1. Jun 6, 1944Eisenhower, as supreme commander, oversaw the Normandy landings in World War II ².
2. Dec 1, 2022Movers shipped a similar 4-foot Eisenhower globe in Alabama, using custom packaging and crating ².
3. Feb 1, 2026In early February, Hegseth's staff dropped an Eisenhower globe while moving it toward his office, officials say ¹².
4. Oct 22, 2026The Washington Post reported the damage, and the Pentagon said the globe is being repaired ³.

Sources

1. Newsweek, “History of Eisenhower's Globe Amid Claims Pete Hegseth's Staff Broke It” (2026-10-23). newsweek.com/history-of-eisenhowers-globe-amid-claims-pete-h
2. NBC News, “Hegseth staff damaged historic WWII-era Eisenhower globe trying to move it to his office” (2026-10-23). nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/hegseth-staff-damaged-his
3. The Hill, “Hegseth's team broke WWII-era globe from Eisenhower's office” (2026-10-22). thehill.com/policy/defense/6165593-hegseth-staff-damages-eis

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