Vice President JD Vance administered the oath of office to Pete Hegseth, who has been confirmed as President Donald Trump's defense secretary following a close Senate vote on Friday. Hegseth, in his new role, has pledged to revamp the department, with a focus on eliminating what he deems as 'woke' policies and streamlining bureaucratic processes. During his confirmation hearing, Hegseth expressed his desire to bring back a 'warrior culture' within the Pentagon.
The confirmation process for Hegseth was not without controversy, as allegations of misconduct, including claims of sexual assault, excessive drinking, and financial mismanagement, were raised against him. Despite the opposition from former GOP Leader Mitch McConnell and Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, along with Democrats, Vance's tie-breaking vote sealed Hegseth's confirmation.
This historic moment marks Vance as only the second vice president to break a tie in the Senate to confirm a Cabinet nominee. The appointment of Hegseth as defense secretary comes at a critical time, with expectations high for him to bring about significant changes within the department.
