In a significant victory for President Donald Trump and his new administration, the Senate narrowly approved the nomination of troubled Pete Hegseth as secretary of the Department of Defense.
Following GOP Senators and former GOP Leader Mitch McConnell, Vice President JD Vance cast the 51-50 tie. Democrats who opposed Hegseth’s nomination included Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.
The confirmation of Betsy DeVos as Education Secretary by then-Vice President Mike Pence in 2017 was the only other instance in history where a vice president broke a tie for a Cabinet nominee.
Hegseth will be sworn in as secretary of defense by the vice president on Saturday morning at the White House, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.
Hegseth has disputed the accusations of sexual assault, alcohol abuse, and financial mismanagement of veterans charities that have plagued his nomination hearings.
The Trump administration, which had gone to considerable measures to endorse Hegseth as its nominee despite his inexperience and accusations against him, saw the vote on Friday as a major win.
On Friday evening, Trump told reporters that he had contacted Hegseth from Marine One. The president said Hegseth, who was in the Senate on Friday night to witness his confirmation vote, would be an excellent secretary.
In an early celebration as Vance headed to the Senate, Trump told reporters, “We just heard that we have a great secretary of defense. We’re very happy about that, and we appreciate everyone’s vote.”
Hegseth has pledged as secretary to simplify the bureaucracy and reform the department, especially with regard to woke policies. Hegseth expressed his desire to reinstate a military culture within the Pentagon to senators during his confirmation hearing.
Shortly after voting against Hegseth’s nomination, McConnell reprised the phrase in a scathing statement, asserting that exchanging one group of culture warriors for another would not restore warrior culture.
According to all accounts, courageous young people enlist in the military with the belief that it is a meritocracy. According to McConnell, this priceless trust will only last as long as legitimate civilian leadership upholds the necessary separation between politics and service people.
This basic task was not completed by the Biden administration. However, substituting one group of cultural warriors for another will not lead to the revival of warrior culture.
As of Friday afternoon, Senate Republican leaders were uncertain about the votes of Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and McConnell, but Tillis ultimately supported the nomination.
Given their slender majority, Republicans could only afford to lose three GOP votes in order for Vance to break the tie and confirm the defense secretary. As his confirmation date drew near, Hegseth was communicating with senators, according to senior adviser Eric Ueland.
Prior to the vote, Ueland told CNN that the secretary-designate had spoken with various senators on multiple occasions.
According to Tillis, he had a nearly two-hour conversation with Hegseth on Friday before the senator declared his support for his nomination.
In the days preceding his confirmation, the nominee had been criticized.
After declaring their opposition to Hegseth’s nomination, Murkowski and Collins released remarks on Thursday denouncing him. Hegseth lacks the moral fortitude needed to head the Department of Defense, Murkowski subsequently told CNN.
Hegseth was criticized by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Friday, who said that his approval would undermine the legitimacy of the Republican majority and described him as one of the most unpredictable, incompetent, and unfit Cabinet nominees we have ever seen in modern times.
The New York Democrat went on to say that he lacks the judgment, expertise, and character needed for the job.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.