The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth as the US’ defence secretary in a dramatic late-night vote. The confirmation swatted back questions about his qualifications to lead the Pentagon amid allegations of heavy drinking and aggressive behaviour towards women.
Vice President JD Vance was on hand to cast a tiebreaking vote, unusual in the Senate for Cabinet nominees, who typically win wider support.
Hegseth himself was at the Capitol with his family.
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) January 25, 2025
“We have not had a secretary of defense like Hegseth before,” said Jeremi Suri, a University of Texas, Austin, history professor and presidential scholar, as quoted by Reuters.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune opened Friday’s session saying that Hegseth, as a veteran of the Army National Guard who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, “will bring a warrior’s perspective” to the top military job.
“Gone will be the days of woke distractions,” Thune said, referring to the diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives being slashed across the federal government. “The Pentagon’s focus will be on war fighting.”
Next week senators will be facing Trump’s other outside Cabinet choices including particularly Kash Patel, a Trump ally who has published an enemies list, as the FBI director; Tulsi Gabbard as director of the office of national intelligence; and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, the anti-vaccine advocate at Health and Human Services.
So far, Trump’s nominees are largely on track.
