U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel speaks to Defense Department employees at the staff meeting after he was sworn in as the new Pentagon chief at the Pentagon, Feb. 27, 2013. In remarks to Defense Department employees, he deplored the uncertainty brought about by impending automatic cuts to the defense budget, and promised to do everything in his power to meet those challenges. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

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Hagel sworn in as U.S. Secretary of Defense

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel was sworn in on Wednesday as the new Pentagon chief.

In remarks to Defense Department employees, he deplored the uncertainty brought about by impending automatic cuts to the defense budget, and promised to do everything in his power to meet those challenges.  Full story

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel speaks to Defense Department employees at the staff meeting after he was sworn in as the new Pentagon chief at the Pentagon, Feb. 27, 2013. In remarks to Defense Department employees, he deplored the uncertainty brought about by impending automatic cuts to the defense budget, and promised to do everything in his power to meet those challenges. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel speaks to Defense Department employees at the staff meeting after he was sworn in as the new Pentagon chief at the Pentagon, Feb. 27, 2013. In remarks to Defense Department employees, he deplored the uncertainty brought about by impending automatic cuts to the defense budget, and promised to do everything in his power to meet those challenges. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel speaks to Defense Department employees at the staff meeting after he was sworn in as the new Pentagon chief at the Pentagon, Feb. 27, 2013. In remarks to Defense Department employees, he deplored the uncertainty brought about by impending automatic cuts to the defense budget, and promised to do everything in his power to meet those challenges. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

 U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel speaks to Defense Department employees at the staff meeting after he was sworn in as the new Pentagon chief at the Pentagon, Feb. 27, 2013. In remarks to Defense Department employees, he deplored the uncertainty brought about by impending automatic cuts to the defense budget, and promised to do everything in his power to meet those challenges. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel speaks to Defense Department employees at the staff meeting after he was sworn in as the new Pentagon chief at the Pentagon, Feb. 27, 2013. In remarks to Defense Department employees, he deplored the uncertainty brought about by impending automatic cuts to the defense budget, and promised to do everything in his power to meet those challenges. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

(130227) -- WASHINGTON D.C., Feb. 27, 2013 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel speaks to Defense Department employees at the staff meeting after he was sworn in as the new Pentagon chief at the Pentagon, Feb. 27, 2013. In remarks to Defense Department employees, he deplored the uncertainty brought about by impending automatic cuts to the defense budget, and promised to do everything in his power to meet those challenges. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)