Pete Hegseth, the current U.S. Secretary of Defense, is facing widespread backlash after reports revealed he ordered the conversion of a Pentagon room into what many are calling a makeup studio, sparking outrage over priorities and optics during a period of intense budget cuts.

According to CBS News, the room—located adjacent to the Pentagon press briefing area—was retrofitted at a cost of “several thousand dollars.” The network reported that the studio includes professional lighting and mirrors typically used for on-camera makeup preparation. This revelation has quickly gone viral, with critics slamming Hegseth for the apparent extravagance.

The Department of Defense confirmed the studio’s existence to HuffPost but attempted to walk back the report on X (formerly Twitter), labeling the CBS story as “fake news.” The official statement denied the presence of a “lighted mirror” and insisted that the space is intended as a “green room,” not a dedicated Pentagon makeup room. Officials also disputed the reported cost, saying it “didn’t cost thousands.”

However, the social media backlash was swift and unrelenting, especially from users outraged by the contrast between the studio’s construction and broader military budget cuts under Donald Trump’s administration.

“When your job is essentially murdering people and breaking things, it helps to look good,” wrote one user, encapsulating the tone of widespread criticism online.

Hegseth’s tenure as defense secretary has already been mired in controversy, with critics highlighting questionable decision-making and the inclusion of unauthorized individuals in private discussions around military operations via encrypted apps like Signal.

The Pentagon makeup studio controversy has further damaged public perception, with many seeing it as emblematic of misplaced priorities and poor leadership optics.