President Donald Trump’s pick to run the Department of Defense, decorated military veteran and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, is one step closer to confirmation.
The GOP-controlled Senate Armed Services Committee voted 14–13 along party lines to advance Hegseth’s nomination Monday afternoon, an early victory for Trump as he attempts to get his cabinet confirmed as quickly as possible.
“I just voted to advance Pete Hegseth’s nomination to the Senate floor. There is no time to waste. The Senate should confirm Hegseth NOW!” Senator Jim Banks (R., Ind.), a committee member and Afghanistan veteran, said on X.
Hegseth sat before the committee for a confirmation hearing last week after facing anonymous allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking, as well as accusations of financial mismanagement, all of which he has denied. During the hearing, Hegseth emphasized the need to focus on the average solider and get woke ideology out of the military. Hegseth completed tours in Iraq and Afghanistan over the course of two decades in the military and is a graduate of Harvard and Princeton.
Trump echoed Hegseth’s rhetoric during his inaugural address inside the U.S. Capitol Monday, which Hegseth attended alongside Trump’s other cabinet selections.
“I will sign an order to stop our warriors from being subjected to radical political theories and social experiments while on duty. It’s going to end immediately,” Trump said.
“Our armed forces will be freed to focus on their sole mission: defeating America’s enemies.”
In the the confirmation hearing, several Senate Democrats confronted Hegseth about the allegations; he replied by accusing the media and anonymous sources of waging an unfounded smear campaign against him. Without acknowledging wrongdoing, Hegseth credited his third wife, Jennifer, and his relationship with Jesus Christ for helping him improve his behavior.
Democratic lawmakers similarly pressed Hegseth about his past comments on women serving in combat roles; Hegseth responded by expressing support for women in combat roles as long as standards are not lowered.
The entire Senate GOP now appears to be on board with Hegseth’s nomination, although he initially seemed to be in peril because of the sallegations. Following the confirmation hearing, Senator Joni Ernst (R., Iowa), a military veteran who has spoken about her experience with domestic abuse, announced her support for Hegseth.
“Our next commander in chief selected Pete Hegseth to serve in this role, and after our conversations, hearing from Iowans, and doing my job as a United States senator, I will support President Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense,” said Ernst, a member of the Armed Services Committee.
Prior to the hearing, Ernst and Hegseth had multiple meetings, but she had not committed to voting for him. Hegseth promised Ernst he would appoint a senior Pentagon official to handle sexual-assault cases in the military.
Unless the Senate agrees to push Hegseth through quickly, his confirmation is likely to take place later this week after a period of debate. In the meantime, Trump named experienced Pentagon official Robert Salesses acting secretary of defense.