Senator Lisa Murkowski (R., Alaska) said Thursday that she “cannot in good conscience” support Pete Hegseth’s bid to become secretary of defense, pointing to a demonstrated “lack of judgment” on Hegseth’s part in both his alleged excessive drinking and the sexual assault allegation against him, as well as his own admitted infidelities.
She also expressed concerns about Hegseth’s comments about women serving in combat and his record of financial mismanagement in his past leadership roles.
Murwkoski’s announcement makes her the first Republican to oppose one of President Trump’s cabinet picks.
“After thorough evaluation, I must conclude that I cannot in good conscience support his nomination for Secretary of Defense,” she said in a lengthy statement on Thursday explaining her position.
“I did not make this decision lightly; I take my constitutional responsibility to provide advice and consent with the utmost seriousness,” she added.
“Managing the Department of Defense requires vast experience and expertise as the department is one of the most complex and powerful organizations in the world, and Mr. Hegseth’s prior roles in his career do not demonstrate to me that he is prepared for such immense responsibility,” the statement continues.
The senator points to Hegseth’s leadership of two veteran organizations that were “marked with accusations of financial mismanagement and problems with the workplace culture he fostered.”
Democrats and some Republicans have expressed doubts about the 44-year-old’s ability to serve as secretary of defense, which would have him overseeing more than 3 million military and civilian personnel around the world and an $800 billion annual budget.
Hegseth served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan but has limited management experience. He was, however, described as an “incredibly talented, battle-proven leader” during his service, according to a copy of military evaluations obtained by Fox News.
But Murkowski goes on to express additional concerns about Hegseth, including his comments on women in combat.
“Although he has recently revised his statements on women in combat since being nominated, I remain concerned about the message that confirming Mr. Hegseth sends to women currently serving and those aspiring to join,” she said. “Women have served our nation with distinction, overcoming immense obstacles to excel in combat and leadership roles, and they deserve to know that their leader honors and values their commitment to our nation.”
A number of Senate Democrats went after Hegseth over past public comments criticizing the Pentagon leadership’s emphasis on promoting women to a degree that hurts military readiness and lethality.
Based on his experience serving in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, and countless conversations with fellow veterans, Hegseth believes that the military brass has relaxed standards of physical fitness to accommodate female recruits. If confirmed as secretary of defense, Hegseth vowed to reinvigorate standards and hold all personnel to the same requirements, regardless of gender.
He said during the hearing that he supports women in combat roles as long as standards remain high and he vowed to review standards in a “gender-neutral” way. He similarly told Senator Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) that he served with “great” women in combat and that he’d look to maintain high standards rather than meeting diversity quotas.
Murkowski, meanwhile, also pointed to Hegseth’s general “lack of judgment” in her statement.
Hegseth has been plagued by accusations of sexual assault, excessive drinking, and sexism. He has admitted to paying an undisclosed amount to a woman who accused him of sexual assault at a Republican conference in Monterey, Calif., allegations that Hegseth denies.
“While the allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking do nothing to quiet my concerns, the past behaviors Mr. Hegseth has admitted to, including infidelity on multiple occasions, demonstrate a lack of judgment that is unbecoming of someone who would lead our armed forces,” Murkowski continues. “These behaviors starkly contrast the values and discipline expected of servicemembers. Men and women in uniform are held accountable for such actions, and they deserve leaders who uphold these same standards.”
“Above all, I believe that character is the defining trait required of the Secretary of Defense, and must be prioritized without compromise,” she concludes. “The leader of the Department of Defense must demonstrate and model the standards of behavior and character we expect of all servicemembers, and Mr. Hegseth’s nomination to the role poses significant concerns that I cannot overlook.”
During the hearing earlier this month, Hegseth accused the media of orchestrating a “coordinated smear campaign” against him.
Given a chance to respond to the allegations, the former Fox News host torched the media, saying reporters relied on a “small handful of anonymous sources” to write negative stories about him.
“All they were out to do was destroy me,” Hegseth said, arguing that the left-wing media doesn’t care about the truth.
Senator Mazie Hirono (D., Hawaii) hit Hegseth with a series of rapid-fire questions on a variety of topics, asking, among other things, if he will commit to not drinking on the job, which she noted is a 24/7 position. She noted media reports that his former Fox News colleagues have said he would drink on the job. Hegseth denied those reports but dodged on whether he’d resign if he drinks while serving as defense secretary, if confirmed.
Hegseth has received support from a number of Republicans after holding meetings with many lawmakers on the Hill in recent weeks. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R., S.D.) said he is “hopeful” about Hegseth’s chances of confirmation, while Senator John Barrasso (R., Wyo.) called him “very qualified” for the job.
“It is true that I don’t have a similar biography to defense secretaries of the last 30 years,” Hegseth said in his opening statement before the Armed Services Committee. “But, as President Trump also told me, we’ve repeatedly placed people atop the Pentagon with supposedly ‘the right credentials’ — whether they are retired generals, academics or defense contractor executives — and where has it gotten us?”
“He believes, and I humbly agree,” Hegseth continued, “that it’s time to give someone with dust on his boots the helm. A change agent. Someone with no vested interest in certain companies or specific programs or approved narratives.”