Senate confirms Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense

2025-01-25 16:50:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Senate confirms Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense

From the Senate vote to confirm the new Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth

Pete Hegseth was confirmed as the next U.S. defense secretary on Friday in a close Senate vote. His confirmation is a significant victory for President Donald Trump after fierce opposition from Democrats and some Republicans.

Pete Hegseth was confirmed in a 50-50 vote in the Senate, thanks to Vice President JD Vance's tie-breaking vote. Three Republican senators voted against Mr. Hegseth's nomination for the position of Defense Secretary.

This was the second time in history that a cabinet nominee needed the intervention of the vice president to be confirmed.

"Pete Hegseth is ready to implement President Donald Trump's program and I believe he will be an agent of change at the Department of Defense and that he is the person we need," said Republican Senator Roger Wicker.

"Mr. Hegseth recognizes the weaknesses of the Department of Defense. He is also committed to ensuring the protection of whistleblowers, those who will report on cases of waste and abuse, which have been countless within the department," said Republican Senator Chuck Grassley.

The three Republican senators who joined the Democrats in voting against Mr. Hegseth were Senators Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins and Mitch McConnell, who was the Senate Republican leader until earlier this month.

Mr. McConnell said Mr. Hegseth had not demonstrated that he had the skills to effectively manage an organization as large and complex as the military. "Simply wanting to be a 'change agent' is not enough to take on this role," Senator McConnell said in a statement.

Mr. Hegseth, a former Fox News anchor and decorated former soldier, has pledged to make major changes at the Pentagon.

Senate Democrats raised a number of questions regarding his qualifications, temperament, and views on the role of military women on the battlefield.

"There are hundreds of others without the personal baggage of sexual abuse allegations, spousal abuse, who have not been accused of coming to work drunk or abuse who are the subject of a very extensive report written by anonymous contributors ," said Democratic Senator Tim Kaine.

Mr. Hegseth is a candidate who has caused the most debate to achieve the highest office at the head of the American armed forces.

"Mr. Hegseth has not shown the proper judgment to be secretary of defense. Mr. Hegseth has not shown the character to be secretary of defense, because this job is a great responsibility and he is not the right person for this job ," said Democratic Senator Adam Schiff.

Secretary Hegseth will now lead 1.3 million active-duty military personnel and about 1 million civilians working for the United States armed forces, with an annual budget of about $1 trillion./VOA