Hegseth Confirmed As Defense Secretary After Senate Deadlock Forces VP Vance To Intervene

The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense after a deadlocked 50-50 vote required Vice President JD Vance to step in and cast the deciding vote late Friday. The confirmation came after weeks of debate over Hegseth’s qualifications and personal history, with all Democrats and three Republican senators—Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Mitch McConnell (R-KY)—voting against his appointment.

Critics of Hegseth’s nomination focused on allegations regarding his personal life and concerns about his stance on women serving in combat roles. Murkowski cited what she called a “lack of judgment” in her opposition, pointing to past accusations of infidelity and excessive drinking. Hegseth has repeatedly denied these allegations, and his former wife has publicly refuted claims of misconduct.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) initially appeared uncertain but ultimately sided with supporters of Hegseth, saying the nominee’s military experience and commitment to national security priorities made him the right choice to lead the Pentagon.

President Donald Trump welcomed the confirmation, highlighting Hegseth’s dedication to refocusing the military on strength and readiness. Trump has made it clear that his administration will work to remove Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives from military policies, which he argues have weakened the armed forces.

While the confirmation process for Hegseth was contentious, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was confirmed earlier in the week without opposition, receiving unanimous support from the Senate.

The Trump administration is expected to push forward with its defense strategy, with recent high-profile dismissals of military officials who previously supported DEI programs and other policies the administration views as distractions from combat preparedness.