A partial government shutdown was in effect when the Eisenhower globe was moved by Pete Hegseth's staff.

Posted by The Briefing with Jen Psaki, Oct 23, 2026Checked Nov 2, 2026

Polygraph verdictTrue

Sources: 5 support
Said: 1 time·
Confidence: 85%

The Briefing with Jen PsakiOct 23, 2026

The sources establish that the globe was damaged during an attempted move by Hegseth's staff on February 3, 2026, and that a partial government shutdown that began January 31 was ongoing that day and ended the same day the globe was damaged. The claim's central assertion holds, and the extraction faithfully reflects the passage's 'Hecksath' (Hegseth) and shutdown references.

The host relays this claim without endorsing it. It counts as passed on, not against the post.

What was said

… Army Center of Military History on how to ensure its safe transport and properly document its relocation to Hecksath's office, and that's according to two people familiar with the matter. But at the time, the history staffers were furloughed due to a partial government shutdown, and when the experts could not be reached, Hecksath's staff decided to move the globe themselves. Of course they did. That's according to people who are for the story as well. Now, an apparent lack of patience appeared to be a factor, said one person familiar with the situation. No kidding. And guess what, everyone? …

The Briefing with Jen Psaki · Oct 23, 2026· from the transcriptPost →

What we found

Supports. Snopes reports the globe was damaged in a move attempted on February 3 by staff who had no professional curators, who were furloughed during a government shutdown.[1]

Supports. AP reports the partial government shutdown started on a Saturday (January 31, 2026), and the Army confirmed the damage occurred during an 'attempted move' on February 3.[2][3]

Supports. Forbes, summarizing the Washington Post, states the history staffers were furloughed in the partial shutdown and that the shutdown ended the same day the globe was damaged.[4]

Supports. Seattle Times, citing the Post's anonymous sources, says the history staffers were furloughed due to a partial government shutdown when the experts could not be reached, and Hegseth's staff then moved the globe themselves.[5]

Context. The shutdown ended the same day as the move, so the shutdown was in effect at the time of the move, though only just before it ended.[4]