A rare 30-inch historical artifact utilized by former President Dwight D. Eisenhower during his tenure as an Army general in World War II was severely damaged after aides to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attempted to relocate it themselves rather than wait for professional artifact specialists, fresh reporting reveals.

The Incident and Damage

Images of the fractured sphere, secured by The Washington Post, indicate the heavy object was dropped onto its wooden pedestal, leaving a massive puncture near the Antarctic region. Army spokesperson Christopher Surridge verified via email that the antique suffered severe impacts during a botched relocation effort this past February.

Surridge noted that beyond the structural puncture, the main spherical body completely broke away from the rotating metal bracket assembly.

Circumstances Surrounding the Move

Insider sources cited by The Washington Post indicate that Hegseth's team took matters into their own hands because the heritage and history personnel typically responsible for handling such fragile items were furloughed amid a partial government shutdown.

Coincidentally, the federal shutdown concluded on the exact day the artifact met its accident. While records confirm Hegseth wanted the piece brought to his workspace, it remains unconfirmed whether he directly commanded the unauthorized transfer or if the choice originated lower down the chain of command.

Historical Significance

The casualty of this botched maneuver is one of three recognized "Eisenhower globes" tied to the legendary commander's WWII service. Archival display notes highlighted by The Washington Post show the piece accompanied Eisenhower while he acted as Chief of the War Plans Division in early 1942, and subsequently within the Operations Division. Eisenhower famously favored globes, frequently appearing in historic photographs alongside them.

Broader Leadership Controversies

This mishap adds to a mounting tally of administrative turbulence at the Pentagon under Hegseth's leadership. Early on, top administration officials including Hegseth reviewed upcoming Yemen strike plans over a commercial Signal chat featuring an external journalist. More recently, President Donald Trump blocked Hegseth's publicized initiative to broadcast the execution of the Fort Hood shooter after public polling showed widespread public backlash.