The Senate on Thursday narrowly voted to advance Pete Hegseth's nomination to serve as defense secretary in President Donald Trump's administration, setting up a contentious final confirmation vote. The procedural vote to invoke cloture, which limits debate to 30 hours, passed 51-49, with two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, joining all 47 Democrats in opposition.
Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Army National Guard veteran, faces a barrage of allegations related to his character and past behavior, including claims of alcohol abuse, sexual assault, and financial mismanagement. Despite these controversies, he has denied all allegations and maintained that he is committed to the role.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who has been a vocal supporter of Hegseth, expressed confidence in his confirmation. Pete Hegseth will be confirmed on Friday, Wicker said after the vote. However, he acknowledged the narrow margin and hinted that Vice President JD Vance may need to break a potential 50-50 tie.
The allegations against Hegseth have fueled a heated debate in the Senate. Among the most serious claims is an affidavit from his former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, which describes him as exhibiting "erratic and aggressive behavior" and alleges that he made his ex-wife, Samantha Hegseth, fear for her safety. Danielle also claimed that Samantha once confided in her that Hegseth had "grabbed her groin without consent."
Danielle, however, clarified that she "did not personally witness physical or sexual abuse by Hegseth." Samantha Hegseth has also denied any physical abuse, saying in a statement, "There was no physical abuse during my marriage to Pete Hegseth."
Tim Parlatore, Hegseth's attorney, criticized the media for reporting on the allegations, calling them "false allegations by an uninvolved third party."
Despite the contentious nature of his confirmation process, Hegseth remains a favorite among Republicans, who view him as a staunch ally of Trump's defense agenda. Hegseth has promised to prioritize reforms within the Pentagon, including efforts to combat "woke" programs that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
"I'm straight up just saying that we should not have women in combat roles," Hegseth said in a recent podcast interview, though he later clarified during his confirmation hearing that he supports women in combat if the standards are equal for men and women.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has been one of Hegseth's most vocal critics, urging Republicans to reject his nomination. "Hegseth is so utterly unqualified, he ranks up there as one of the very worst nominees that could be put forward," Schumer said on the Senate floor.
The confirmation hearing highlighted divisions not only between parties but also within the Republican caucus. Murkowski, the first Republican senator to publicly oppose Hegseth, said, "Some of the past behavior he has admitted to demonstrates a lack of judgment and is unbecoming of someone who would lead our armed forces."
Meanwhile, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said he conducted his own investigation into the allegations against Hegseth and found no corroborating evidence. "I have spent hours on the phone. I have yet to find one instance of a first-hand account with corroboration to support the allegations," Tillis said.
Hegseth's defenders point to his military service in Iraq and Afghanistan and argue that his outsider status will help him shake up what they view as a Pentagon establishment resistant to change. Critics, however, contend that his lack of experience in high-level defense roles and personal controversies make him unfit for the job.
Adding to the tension, Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, questioned the thoroughness of the FBI's background check on Hegseth. "It is unprecedented that the FBI has returned to my office two more times, as recently as last night, to provide additional information on the nominee," Reed said, adding, "Frankly, I still do not believe the background investigation is complete."
Hegseth's final confirmation vote, expected on Friday, is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched and contentious Cabinet confirmations of the Trump administration.
