Earlier this year, a historic globe believed to have been used by General Dwight D. Eisenhower during World War II was damaged during a relocation attempt inside the Pentagon. The incident occurred on February 3, when staff from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office attempted to move the artifact without the involvement of trained curators or military historians.

The globe, measuring approximately 30 inches in diameter, is one of two such globes housed within the Pentagon and is tied to Eisenhower’s tenure as chief of the War Plans Division and Operations Division in 1942. According to people familiar with the event and documentation accompanying the globe, it had been under the custodianship of Pentagon Army leaders since the 1930s.

Rather than following the established protocols that typically involve coordination with experts at the U.S. Army Center of Military History, Hegseth’s staff undertook the move independently. During the process, the globe slipped and fell onto its base, sustaining a substantial gash near the Antarctic region and detaching the spherical portion from its metal mounting that enables rotation.

The Army confirmed the damage in a statement, attributing it to an “attempted move” on the specified date and noting that the globe was not ultimately relocated. Pentagon officials declined requests to provide photographs or allow in-person inspections of the damaged artifact, though images showing the extent of the damage were obtained separately.

Sources familiar with the situation said the incident occurred amid a partial government shutdown, which had furloughed history staff who normally oversee the handling and transport of such items. Unable to consult these experts, Hegseth’s aides proceeded with the move during that period—a decision described by one source as an “apparent lack of patience.” The shutdown concluded the same day as the damage.

Spokespeople for Hegseth’s office did not respond to requests for comment. It remains unclear whether the secretary personally authorized the move or if aides acted independently, as well as whether appropriate materials were available to safeguard the globe during transport.

The damaged globe is part of a broader collection linked to Eisenhower. Another similar globe, previously stored at a military history site in Alabama, was carefully packed and crated for relocation in recent years. A plaque accompanying the damaged globe states it was likely used by Eisenhower during his World War II service and retained by successors in the Army’s Operations Division lineage.

Eisenhower, a five-star general credited with orchestrating Allied victories in Europe and later serving as U.S. president from 1953 to 1961, was known for his fondness for globes, frequently seen in historical photos with the artifacts. The Army also holds a second Eisenhower globe on display in the office of the Army chief of staff, notable for markings made by Eisenhower and General Omar Bradley.

The incident has drawn criticism internally, with some officials viewing it as symbolic of a broader cultural approach under Hegseth’s leadership, which has included efforts to rebrand the Defense Department as the War Department—a name change not authorized by Congress. Retired Army Brig. Gen. Ty Seidule, a critic of several of Hegseth’s positions, said the damage reflects a contrast between the secretary’s approach and the qualities associated with Eisenhower’s legacy.