The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth as the next U.S. defense secretary on Friday, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tiebreaking vote after a 50-50 split in the Upper House.
Senators had raised concerns over allegations of alcohol abuse, sexual misconduct, and financial mismanagement, which Hegseth vehemently denied. Three Republicans—Senators Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, and Mitch McConnell—joined all Democrats in opposing Hegseth.
President Donald Trump reportedly expressed doubts about Hegseth's confirmation, citing concerns that key Republican senators like McConnell and Senator Thom Tillis might vote against him. Tillis, however, met with Hegseth for two hours and ultimately decided to support him after concluding that the allegations were unsubstantiated, as reported by the Washington Post.
This week Hegseth revealed to the Senate Armed Services Committee that he paid $50,000 to settle a sexual assault allegation. The payment was part of a non-disclosure agreement with a woman who accused him of a 2017 assault in Monterey, California. Hegseth, who has denied the allegations, described them as a "nuisance claim" intended to damage his career. This comes after Samantha Hegseth, his ex-wife, gave a statement to the FBI asserting Hegseth's drinking habits were a concern, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
During his confirmation hearings, Senate Democrats questioned Hegseth about several misconduct claims, including accusations of sexual misconduct and financial mismanagement in prior roles. Hegseth has denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated smears.
As defense secretary, Hegseth will oversee the U.S. military's vast operations, including over 3 million military and civilian personnel, the nuclear arsenal, and a budget exceeding $800 billion.
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