Vice President Vance breaks a Senate tie to confirm Pete Hegseth as defense secretary in a narrow vote.

 

The Senate narrowly confirmed Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense in a contentious 51-50 vote, marking a significant victory for President Donald Trump and his administration. Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote after GOP Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, and former GOP Leader Mitch McConnell joined Democrats in opposing the nomination. This was only the second time in history a vice president broke a tie for a Cabinet nominee, the first being Mike Pence’s vote to confirm Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education in 2017.

Hegseth is set to be sworn in Saturday morning by Vice President Vance at the White House, according to an official familiar with the matter. His confirmation follows a contentious process marred by allegations of sexual assault, alcohol abuse, and mismanagement of veterans' charities, all of which Hegseth denied. Despite these challenges and his lack of prior defense experience, the administration strongly supported his nomination.

President Trump praised Hegseth shortly after the vote, describing him as a “great secretary” who would bring significant change to the Department of Defense. Speaking from Marine One, Trump said, “We’re very happy with the decision, and we appreciate everyone’s vote.”

Hegseth has vowed to overhaul the department, streamline bureaucracy, and restore what he calls a “warrior culture” at the Pentagon, focusing on eliminating policies he considers overly progressive. During his confirmation hearing, he emphasized his vision of reinforcing military readiness and discipline.

However, his nomination was divisive, with McConnell delivering a pointed critique after voting against Hegseth. “The restoration of ‘warrior culture’ cannot come by replacing one set of culture warriors with another,” McConnell said. He added that the military’s credibility hinges on civilian leadership maintaining a clear separation between politics and the armed forces.

GOP Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina ultimately supported Hegseth after a lengthy discussion with the nominee on Friday. In contrast, Murkowski and Collins released statements criticizing Hegseth’s character and qualifications. Murkowski stated, “He lacks the strength of character necessary to lead the Department of Defense.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also condemned the nomination, calling Hegseth “one of the most unqualified and erratic Cabinet nominees in modern history.” He warned that confirming Hegseth would undermine the credibility of the Senate majority and endanger national security.

The administration’s push to confirm Hegseth was marked by last-minute lobbying efforts and intense negotiations. According to senior adviser Eric Ueland, Hegseth engaged directly with numerous senators as the vote approached.

Despite the controversy, Hegseth’s confirmation reflects a significant milestone for the Trump administration, which remains committed to reshaping the Department of Defense under his leadership.