The U.S. Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth to be the next defense secretary in a late-night vote that ended in a tie, requiring Vice President J.D. Vance to cast the deciding vote.
Hegseth was confirmed on January 24 after Vance broke a 50-50 tie in the Republican-led Senate that resulted when three Republicans joined every Democrat and independent in voting no.
Hegseth, 44, will lead an organization with nearly 2.1 million men and women in uniform, about 780,000 civilian employees, and a budget of $850 billion. The former Fox News host and combat veteran has vowed to bring a “warrior culture” to the Pentagon.
Questions about his qualifications and allegations of heavy drinking and aggressive behavior toward women had dogged his nomination, but President Donald Trump stood by him.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (Republican-South Dakota) said Hegseth, a veteran of the Army National Guard who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, “will bring a warrior's perspective" to the top military job.
SEE ALSO: Wider Europe Briefing: NATO Braces For An Unpredictable 2025“Gone will be the days of woke distractions,” Thune said, referring to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that Trump opposes. “The Pentagon's focus will be on war fighting.”
In his opening statement before the Senate Armed Service Committee on January 14, Hegseth said diversity, equity, and inclusion programs politicize the military.
Senator Roger Wicker (Republican-Mississippi), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement e-mailed to RFE/RL that he had found Hegseth to be “a true patriot, a top-shelf communicator, and a prospective change agent who will bring much-needed reform to the Pentagon.”
Hegseth will help bring back “peace through strength,” he said.
Hegseth denied allegations that he was abusive to women and promised not to drink on the job if confirmed. But Democrats remained skeptical and stayed united in their opposition.
“Is Pete Hegseth truly the best we have to offer?” said Senator Jack Reed (Democrat-Rhode Island), ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, in a speech before the vote.
The three Republican votes against confirming Hegseth were cast by Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Senator Susan Collins of Maine, and Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
Murkowski said in a statement that Hegseth’s behaviors “starkly contrast” with what is expected of the military.
“I remain concerned about the message that confirming Mr. Hegseth sends to women currently serving and those aspiring to join,” Murkowski added.
Collins said that after a lengthy discussion with Hegseth she was “not convinced that his position on women serving in combat roles has changed.”
McConnell, the former Senate majority leader, had said earlier in a speech that he would vote to confirm nominees to senior national security roles “whose record and experience will make them immediate assets, not liabilities.”