Vance Breaks Tie To Confirm Pete Hegseth For Pentagon

 On Friday evening, the GOP-led Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth to become Donald Trump‘s defense secretary, ending a dramatic confirmation process for the high-profile figure who aims to revitalize the U.S. military.

The final vote was 51-50. Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) along with Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Susan Collins (R-ME) joined with Democrats and the two independents who caucus with them in opposing the nomination, leaving Vice President JD Vance to cast the tie-breaking vote.

This was the second time in which a vice president broke a tie for a Cabinet nominee. The first instance happened in 2017 when then-Vice President Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking vote for Betsy DeVos to become education secretary in Trump’s first administration.

“I thought I was done voting in the senate,” Vance, a former U.S. senator from Ohio, quipped in a post to X as he traveled to the U.S. Capitol.

Hegseth, 44, is an Army National Guard veteran and former Fox News host who has experience leading veteran advocacy groups. He also has written a number of books, including one focused on how the military has gone woke.

At a time when the Pentagon is contending with low recruitment and several failed audits in a row, Hegseth testified in his confirmation hearing that Trump wants him to restore a “warrior culture” and predicted troops would “rejoice” when lethality and war fighting come back into focus.

 

Hegseth’s bid to become defense secretary was not without drama as a number of misconduct allegations emerged during the Senate confirmation process. Senators who rejected Hegseth’s nomination raised concerns about those claims, his stance on women serving in the military, and his leadership experience. Hegseth’s defenders insisted he was the “fighter” the Department of Defense (DOD) needs to get back on track.

During his confirmation hearing this month, Hegseth testified that there was a “coordinated smear campaign orchestrated in the media” driven by anonymous sources. Hegseth also said he was “not a perfect person, but redemption is real, and God forged me in ways I know I’m prepared for.”

While the final vote was taking place, Hegseth posted on X a letter to Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), who had not committed to supporting his nomination until moments later. The letter pushed back on allegations by Hegseth’s former sister-in-law, Danielle Dietrich, including that he abused his ex-wife Samantha. Samantha herself previously rejected the abuse claims.

 

Hegseth is now the third Cabinet nominee to be confirmed by the Senate since Trump was sworn into office for a second term on Monday. The other two are Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who is Trump’s nominee to become Secretary of Homeland Security, could follow as soon as this weekend.

Upon announcing the nomination for defense secretary in November, Trump said Hegseth “has spent his entire life as a Warrior for the Troops, and for the Country. Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First.” He added, “With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice – Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Back Down.”

Trump also noted that Hegseth believes in “peace through strength” and said he “will be a courageous and patriotic champion” for the U.S. military.

“I am elated at the confirmation of Pete Hegseth,” Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger (TX) told The Daily Wire. “Hegseth understands our military’s fundamental objective: projecting precise, overwhelming force that instills respect and caution in our adversaries.”

He added that under Hegseth’s leadership at the DoD, “We will ensure we can effectively deter our enemies and restore the warfighting readiness that was compromised under the Biden administration. I am confident America will re-emerge as the undisputed global military superpower with President Trump and Secretary Hegseth’s leadership. America is back–stronger, more lethal, and more resolute than ever before.”