This post has been updated with statements from Sen. Roger Wicker and Sen. Jack Reed.
The Senate on Friday confirmed Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host and member of the National Guard, to serve as the next Secretary of Defense in a 51 to 50 decision late Friday with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the final vote.
The vote was largely split across party lines, with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) breaking with Republicans to vote against Hegseth. Murkowski and Collins raised concerns over allegations of Hegseth’s poor treatment of women and alcohol abuse.
Ahead of his nomination to the top Pentagon job, Hegseth has been a vocal critic of diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the military and made a case against DEI efforts on the air and in his book, “The War on Warriors.”
During his Jan. 14, hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Hegseth said DEI programs politicize the military.
“Unlike the current administration, politics should play no part in military matters. We are not Republicans or Democrats — we are American warriors. Our standards will be high, and they will be equal — not equitable, that is a very different word,” Hegseth said in his opening statement for the confirmation hearing.
Independent of Hegseth, the Trump administration signed an executive order this week to remove federal DEI programs and implored government employees to report programs and contracts that pursued DEI goals under different names via anonymous reports to the Office of Management and Budget.
Additionally, Hegseth has called for a review of the qualifications of senior general and flag officers in all branches.
“Every single senior officer will be reviewed,” Hegseth told the panel.
In his book, Hegseth wrote that the Biden administration chose Adm. Lisa Franchetti to serve as the Chief of Naval Operations over then U.S. Pacific Fleet commander Adm. Sam Paparo due to gender considerations. He said Franchetti, the former commander of U.S. 6th Fleet, lacked “combat experience.”
On Monday, the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security removed Adm. Linda Fagan from serving as the commandant of the Coast Guard due to delays in acquisition programs, failures to keep out drugs and illegal migrants and for mishandling the Operation Fouled Anchor investigation into decades of sexual assault at the U.S Coast Guard Academy.
Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) praised the confirmation vote.
“During the most dangerous national security moment since World War II, we cannot wait another minute to rebuild our military might and put the warfighter first. I greatly appreciate Mr. Hegseth’s commitment to the Senate’s constitutional advise-and-consent process, and I am excited to begin our shared work to return deterrence to the Pentagon,” Wicker said in a statement.
Ranking member Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), who criticized Hegseth during his confirmation process, pledged continued oversight.
“I opposed his nomination, but respect the outcome of his confirmation. Still, I am going to watch him like a hawk, as I have with previous Secretaries from both parties. I will point out where we disagree. I will demand accountability,” Reed said.
“My top priority has always been national security, and partisanship has no place in that mission. I will always pick up the phone for Mr. Hegseth and seek opportunities to work with the Secretary to strengthen and support our military.”
