The Senate confirms Hegseth to the position of U.S. Secretary of Defense

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Pete Hegseth as the United States Secretary of Defense following a narrow vote on Friday night. Hegseth was confirmed after U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance cast the deciding vote, breaking a 50-50 tie in the Republican-led Senate. Three Republican senators joined 47 Democrats and independents in voting against him.

The 44-year-old Hegseth will lead an organization comprising nearly 2.1 million men and women in uniform, approximately 780,000 civilian employees, and a budget of $850 billion. A former war veteran and former television host on Fox News, Hegseth has pledged to bring a “warrior culture” to the Pentagon.

During the nomination process, he faced skepticism about his qualifications and allegations of excessive alcohol use and aggressive behavior toward women, but President Donald Trump stood by him. Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated that Hegseth, a veteran of the Army National Guard who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, “will bring a warrior’s perspective” to the top military post. “The days of ‘woke’ distractions will come to an end,” Thune said, referring to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, which Trump opposes. “The Pentagon’s focus will be on war,” he added.

In his opening statement before the Senate Armed Services Committee on January 14, Hegseth said that diversity, equity, and inclusion programs politicize the military. Senator Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that he considers Hegseth a “true patriot, excellent communicator, and a potential agent of change who will bring much-needed reforms to the Pentagon.” Hegseth will help restore “peace through strength,” Wicker added.

Hegseth denied allegations of abusive behavior toward women and pledged that, if confirmed, he would abstain from drinking while on duty. However, Democrats remained skeptical and united in their opposition. “Is Pete Hegseth truly the best we can offer?” asked Democratic Senator Jack Reed, a ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, during a speech before the vote.

Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, and Mitch McConnell were the three Republican senators who voted against Hegseth’s confirmation. Murkowski stated in a declaration that Hegseth’s behavior “stands in stark contrast” to what is expected in the military. “I remain concerned about the message Hegseth’s confirmation sends to the women currently serving and those aspiring to join the military,” Murkowski added. Collins said that after an extensive discussion with Hegseth, she was “not convinced that his stance on women serving in combat roles has changed.”

McConnell, the former Senate majority leader, had earlier said in a speech that he would vote to confirm candidates for senior national security positions whose backgrounds and experiences make them immediate assets, not obstacles.

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