CNN
—
The Senate narrowly voted to confirm embattled Pete Hegseth to head the Pentagon, a major victory for President Donald Trump and his new administration.
Deputy J.D. Vance said former Republican leader Mitch McConnell and Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Susan Collins (Maine) joined Democrats in opposing Hegseth’s nomination. The President cast the tie-breaking vote, 51-50. This is the second time in history that a vice president has broken a tie for a Cabinet nomination, the other time being in 2017 when then-Vice President Mike Pence confirmed Betsy DeVos as secretary of the Department of Education.
Hegseth will be sworn in as defense secretary by the vice president at the White House on Saturday morning, officials said.
Hegseth’s confirmation process has been mired in allegations of sexual assault, alcohol abuse and financial mismanagement of a veterans charity, all of which he denies. Friday’s vote marked a significant victory for the Trump administration, which decided to endorse Hegseth as its nominee despite his lack of experience and suspicions about him.
President Trump told reporters Friday night that he called Hegseth from Marine One. Hegseth, who was in the Senate Friday night to watch the confirmation vote, “will be a great secretary,” the president said.
President Trump told reporters at an early celebratory event for Vance on his way to the Senate: “I heard we’ve got a great Secretary of Defense. I’m very happy for you. Thank you for your vote.” Ta.
As secretary, Hegseth has vowed to overhaul policies he deems “woke,” among other things, and streamline the bureaucracy. Hegseth told lawmakers during his confirmation hearing that he wants to restore a “warrior culture” to the Pentagon.
McConnell repeated those words in a blistering statement shortly after voting against Hegseth’s nomination, charging that “restoring the ‘warrior culture’ does not come by replacing one culture warrior with another.”
“No matter how you look at it, brave young men and women enter the military knowing that it is a meritocracy. This precious trust is built on the idea that legitimate civilian leaders can act as a firewall between the military and the political. It’s here to stay as long as we protect it,” McConnell said. “The Biden administration has failed in this fundamental mission. But restoring the ‘warrior culture’ will not come by swapping one culture warrior for another.”
Senate Republican leaders were uncertain as of Friday afternoon how McConnell and North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis would vote, but Tillis ultimately voted in favor of the nomination.
Republicans, who enjoy a slim majority, were able to confirm the secretary of defense with Vance’s tie-breaking vote, losing just three Republican votes. Hegseth was engaged to senators by the time he was confirmed, said senior adviser Eric Ueland.
“There was a lot of conversation between the secretary-elect and a lot of the senators,” Welland told CNN before the vote.
Tillis said Friday he was disappointed that he spoke with Hegseth for “nearly two hours” before the latter announced he supported his nomination.
The nominees faced criticism in the days leading up to their approval.
Mr. Murkowski and Mr. Collins issued statements criticizing Mr. Hegseth on Thursday after he announced their opposition to his nomination. Murkowski later told CNN that Hegseth “lacks the strength of character” needed to lead the Pentagon.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Hegseth on Friday morning, calling him “one of the most erratic, unqualified, and unqualified Cabinet nominees we’ve ever seen in modern times,” and said his confirmation would be a no-brainer. He warned that it would jeopardize “the credibility of the Republican majority.”
“He does not have the character, experience or judgment necessary for the job,” the New York Democrat added.
This story has been updated with additional details.
CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Kit Maher and Donald Judd contributed to this report.
