Senate Confirms Pete Hegseth As Defense Secretary After Contentious Debate

The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense after an evenly split vote, with Vice President JD Vance stepping in to cast the tie-breaking vote. The final 51-50 tally came after a heated confirmation process that saw stiff opposition from Senate Democrats and three Republican lawmakers—Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

Opponents of Hegseth’s nomination raised concerns about his lack of traditional defense leadership experience and past personal controversies, including accusations of misconduct. Murkowski pointed to his views on women in combat roles and previous allegations of infidelity and drinking as factors influencing her decision to vote against him. Hegseth rejected these claims and insisted he was committed to serving the military with integrity.

Despite the backlash, Hegseth secured support from Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), who voiced confidence in his military service record and leadership potential. Tillis stated that Hegseth’s experience as a veteran provided a valuable perspective needed at the Pentagon.

President Donald Trump celebrated the confirmation, calling it a victory for his administration’s efforts to reorient the military toward its core mission. Hegseth has vowed to roll back DEI initiatives and focus on combat preparedness and national security.

The narrow confirmation vote came in stark contrast to the recent unanimous approval of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was confirmed without opposition earlier in the week.

With Hegseth taking the helm at the Department of Defense, further shifts in military leadership are anticipated as the Trump administration seeks to align the Pentagon with its strategic objectives.