Pete Hegseth, who has been dogged by allegations of misconduct and scrutinized over his lack of qualifications, has been confirmed as secretary of defense by a 51-50 vote in the Senate, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and former GOP Senate leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky were the sole Republican votes against confirmation.
The Senate Armed Services Committee approved Hegseth’s nomination along party lines on Monday, just hours after President Donald Trump was inaugurated.
Hegseth, a former Fox News host and combat veteran, will assume the helm of one the country’s largest, most complex organizations with little relevant experience. He has pitched himself as an unconventional leader who will shake up the Pentagon and rid it of “woke” policies — a goal he shares with Trump.
But Hegseth’s past came under great scrutiny as he worked to demonstrate his fitness for the job. His past remarks on women in combat roles and his apparent disregard for the rules of combat were widely criticized by Democrats and some military veterans, as were his gripes about the military’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
Hegseth has also faced allegations of past sexual misconduct, excessive drinking and financial mismanagement. He has repeatedly denied the accusations, calling them a “coordinated smear campaign orchestrated in the media” to “destroy” him.








