When Murray said “the Navy needs welders, not people who can recite a president’s executive orders,” Hegseth sought to reassure the Senator, saying “there’s never been a litmus test for hiring welders.”

This week, Murray obtained a copy of Hegseth’s “hiring merit plan” and questionnaire which includes the query, “How would you help advance the President’s Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired.”

Murray responded to Hegseth’s Pentagon litmus test questionnaire, saying: “This is outrageous.”